HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (Warren County) — Huge crowds filled downtown Hackettstown on Saturday, Oct. 31, as families and children dressed in creative costumes gathered for the town’s 13th annual Halloween Downtown celebration.
The event, held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the gazebo near Main and West Moore streets, featured a Halloween parade, costume contest, candy giveaways and trick-or-treating at downtown businesses. Beautiful fall weather provided the backdrop as families enjoyed an afternoon of Halloween festivities.
Mayor Jerry DiMaio led the Halloween parade alongside the Hackettstown Police Department and this year’s costume contest winners. Parade lineup and judging began at noon near Centenary University on West Moore Street, between Beatty Street and Second Avenue, before participants made their way through downtown.
Following the parade, children had the opportunity to trick-or-treat at participating downtown businesses and enjoy trunk-or-treat activities in the rear parking lot of Trinity United Methodist Church at 213 Main St. and Municipal Lot No. 2 behind EXIT Realty Connections NJ at 149 Main St.
2026 Halloween Downtown costume contest winners
The town announced the following winners in five costume contest categories:
- Infant to 3 years old: Nolan, 5 months old, of Hackettstown, dressed as an alien.
- Ages 4 to 6: Robbie, 5, of Blairstown, dressed as Marshall from Paw Patrol.
- Ages 7 to 10: Skylynn, 9, of Hackettstown, dressed as a tornado.
- Family: The Godding family of White Township, dressed as characters from The Grinch.
- Pet: Simba, 3, and Bo, 9, dressed as a Ghostbuster and the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.
The celebration was made possible through contributions from several local businesses and community partners. Mars Snacking donated costume contest prizes, candy and decorations, while the Jay Edwards Program on WRNJ Radio and the Hackettstown Business Improvement District also contributed prizes for contest winners.
Culligan provided free water, coffee and hot chocolate, while Donaldson Farms supplied pumpkins for the festivities. Crunch Fitness also participated in the event.
The annual Halloween Downtown celebration brought together families from Hackettstown and surrounding communities for an afternoon of costumes, candy and activities in the heart of downtown.
