The Palisades Park Recreation Department will hold its annual "Trunk or Treat" from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 275 Broad Ave., in front of Borough Hall. There will be music, popcorn, cotton candy and an inflatable haunted maze. Contests will be held in three categories: trunk decorating, kids' costumes and pet costumes. Earlier, on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 24, a fall community cleanup will take place at the same location, and students can earn community service hours.
Two community events will be held back to back over this weekend and next in Palisades Park, the New Jersey town with the highest share of Korean Americans: a fall cleanup on Oct. 24 and a Halloween "Trunk or Treat" on Oct. 31. Both take place in front of Borough Hall, and both are free to attend.
Trunk or Treat on Oct. 31
In Trunk or Treat, cars are parked in a lot with their trunks open and decorated, and children go from car to car collecting candy. Because it can be held safely in one place, unlike the traditional door-to-door approach, the format has taken hold across the United States. Palisades Park has held the event every year.
Music will be playing, and popcorn and cotton candy will be provided. The spot where children tend to linger longest is the inflatable haunted maze. The contest is divided into three categories: in addition to trunk decorating and kids' costumes, there is a separate category for pet costumes. First- and second-place prizes will be awarded in each category.
Those who wanted to register a car and decorate its trunk had to sign up by Oct. 15, and that deadline has already passed. However, no registration is needed to come watch and collect candy.
In an announcement, Mayor Chung "Paul" Kim wrote that it is "one of my favorite events every year," adding, "The price of candy has gone up a lot, and the children's safety comes first." He went on to say, "Please come out to meet thousands of neighbors and make friends."
Fall Cleanup on Oct. 24
Participants will pick up litter left on the streets together. Supplies such as gloves and bags will be handed out on site. Bagels and drinks will also be available. High school students will receive community service credit, so those who need service hours for graduation requirements or college applications may want to take advantage of it.
The borough issued its notice in three languages: English, Korean and Spanish. More than half of Palisades Park's residents are Korean American, and it is considered the city with the highest share of Korean Americans in the United States.
Meanwhile, in Manhattan
On the evening of Oct. 31, the Village Halloween Parade will also take place in Manhattan. It starts at 7 p.m. at Sixth Avenue and Canal Street and heads north to 15th Street. Since the Palisades Park event ends at 7:30 p.m., it is not impossible to travel into the city and catch the latter part of the parade, but bridges and tunnels are congested at that hour, so allow plenty of time. For families with young children, sticking to one neighborhood event is the more realistic option.
Event schedules may change depending on the weather. In case of rain, events may be postponed or canceled, so it is a good idea to check the borough website or the Recreation Department's announcements on the day.