Halloween is just around the corner, so as you are getting your costumes ready, buying candy and putting up your scariest decorations, be sure to check out the myriad of events that New Jersey has lined up for the holiday.
In the mood for some Mexican food this Halloween? Stop by Chipotle Mexican Grill on Oct. 31 from 5–7 p.m., in your costume, to score a burrito, or as they call it, a “boorito,” for half off at just $3. All proceeds from this event will go toward the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation, which “is committed to creating a more sustainable and healthful food supply and to raising awareness concerning food issues,” according to cultivatefoundation.org.
Take advantage of the various haunted houses and fun fall outdoor activities that New Jersey has to offer. Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson will be hosting its annual Fright Fest every weekend until Nov. 2. Ride your favorite rides such as El Toro or Kingda Ka, which will be decorated for Halloween festivities, and find new terrifying adventures, such as The Haunted Heist and Asylum. Also, be sure to check out Norz Hill Farm in Hillsborough, which has its own corn maze and provides Halloween attractions such as the “Slay Ride” and “Paranoia,” a fright filled walk through the corn maze. If you are on the hunt for more Halloween fun, push your frights to the limit at the Brighton Asylum in Passaic. Previously an insane asylum in the 1940s, the site is now open as one of New Jersey’s scariest haunted attractions, according to night-mares.com.
Get in the spirit of Halloween at Willams Nursery, which will be hosting hayrides, pony rides, pumpkin picking, a maze made from greenhouse benches, a costume contest and even a catapult for kids to launch mini pumpkins for the rest of fall. Said fourth generation Partner Mr. David Williams: “Our fall activities have become a family tradition for many [locals]. We have designed our hayride and our events to give a fun fall experience, but to be conscious of the limited amount of time that families have together.”
The New Jersey Festival Orchestra will be bringing to life the intense 1926 silent film, Flesh and the Devil, at the Presbyterian Church. The event will be held on Nov. 1, and will only cost $13 for students. Combined with the performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, the orchestra portrays the dramatic and thrilling elements of the film. Visit njfestivalorchestra.org to buy tickets ahead of time and to learn more about the event. Said Music Director Mr. David Wroe in a recent article in thealternativepress.org: “This is a fabulously romantic, broad stroked and beautiful score of symphonic proportion. It closely mirrors the traumatic yet passionate events unfolding in the movie and will give a whole new dimension to surround sound.”
So when you’re listening to “Monster Mash” on repeat or eating endless amounts of candy corn, keep in mind the other ways to celebrate Halloween and take advantage of the multitude of themed festivities that New Jersey has to offer.