Halloween Parade, More Events Set In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City’s Halloween celebrations continue this week with a free library event, the city’s annual parade and traditional trick-or-treating on Saturday. The schedule also includes public viewing of the winning entries in this year’s Halloween House Decorating Contest, according to the city’s weekly events announcement.

The Ocean City Free Public Library will host its Halloween Fest from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 1735 Simpson Ave. The city described the event as an “enchanting celebration for witches, wizards and sorcerers of all ages.” The free family program will include games, candy, stories, music, crafts, dancing, a dry-ice station and more. All ages are welcome, and costumes are encouraged.

The 78th annual Halloween Parade is scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m. Oct. 29. The parade will travel on Asbury Avenue from Sixth Street to 11th Street. Ocean City said the event is organized by the Exchange Club of Ocean City in partnership with the city, and that residents are welcome to watch or participate.

The parade will include divisions for children up to age 12, children over 12, family groups, adult groups, animals and pets in costume, organizations marching in costume, cheerleaders and drill or dance teams, non-commercial floats and commercial floats. To register, participants are asked to email oceancity_halloween@yahoo.com with a name, email address or phone number, the division and a brief description of marchers, costumes or a vehicle. More information is available at ochp.blogspot.com.

Ocean City also said results of the seventh annual Halloween House Decorating Contest are in. A list of entries is available at ocnj.us/halloween so residents can see the decorated homes before the holiday passes.

Traditional trick-or-treating hours in Ocean City will be 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

The weekly events notice also highlighted other upcoming community programs. The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce will host Welcome Night from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Ocean City Sports & Civic Center. Registration is also open for the Trail of Two Cities 5K on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, and tickets are on sale for the Ocean City Theatre Company production of “Cabaret” on Nov. 7 and 8 at the Ocean City Music Pier.