South Jersey takes its Halloween house decorating pretty seriously.
Many towns or boroughs actually hold contests, where townsfolk compete against each other. It’s all in fun, but, of course, it is a contest and everybody wants to win, even if it’s only bragging rights at stake, right? Sometimes the prizes are monetary.
Merchantville, a tiny Camden County borough of only 3,820, transforms into “Monsterville” for the month of October in honor of Halloween, with many residents participating in a Halloween house decorating contest where a gift card and a golden broomstick are the prizes.
Here are some South Jersey towns or boroughs that have Halloween decorating contests.
Bordentown
The Halloween house decorating contest’s popularity in Bordentown has grown over the last few years.
Interested participants must register their houses to be judged by completing an online registration form on the website. Judging is to take place Oct. 19-20.
The contest is sponsored by Consolidated Fire Association.
Awards and ribbons are given, and this is for Bordentown Township and Bordentown City. The community has a scarecrow contest and a Halloween parade as well.
Haddon Heights
The Haddon Heights Library holds an annual Halloween house decorating contest every October.
Residents normally compete in three categories: scariest, most creative and judge’s favorite. The contest is only for the outside of the home and is restricted to the front yard. There is to be several prizes.
Hainesport
Hainesport Township’s Halloween house decorating contest has a theme: “100 Years of Hainesport Hauntings.”
First price is $75, second prize is $50 and third prize is $25. It's presented by the Hainesport Recreation Commission.
Participants must fill out a form, and the judging of entries is Oct. 18-20.
Merchantville
The Haunts of Monsterville, aka Merchantville, has begun. Registration forms are to be completed no later than Oct. 13.
The rules: All entries, home or business, must be located in Merchantville. No professional decorating services can be used, and judging is limited to exterior decorations.
Entries are limited to one category per address, and all voting decisions are final. Prizes include the coveted golden broomstick and a $50 gift card.
Cassimira Carol Wallis’s Merchantville house, built in 1860, won the golden broomstick last year. She said that she and her family have lived in the home for 25 years and that it belonged to her grandfather previously, so technically family has resided in the home for 75 years.
“We so love living here in this Halloween town,” she said. “This is our 25th year hosting a haunted yard to scare children. We absolutely love Halloween.”
“Our home is super-duper haunted as well," she added. "We had 'Ghost Hunters' here four times investigating.”
And Monsterville has an annual haunted house, originally dubbed “spook house," at the Merchantville school. It’s an annual fundraiser for the school district, started more than 40 years ago, and is operated my parents and volunteers. The event runs Oct. 18-19 this year.
The borough also has a pumpkin decorating contest, Monsterville Market Off Centre (Oct. 4), Aradia’s Mystery and Magic Street Fair (Oct. 11) and a Monsterville Zombie Run (Oct. 26).
Middle Township
Judging for the Middle Township contest is to be Oct. 15, with winners announced the next day.
Prizes are to be awarded for first, second and third place. Enrollment ends Oct. 10.
The town is also to have a Halloween parade Oct. 23.
Moorestown
Homegrown Moorestown presents a Halloween house decorating contest of its own.
Registration is Sept. 28 through Oct. 18. Categories include: best Halloween daytime display; spookiest (think "classic" Halloween); best horror; and best skeleton scene. New this year: most haunted business.
Each registered contest entry is to receive an official Moorestown Halloween contest yard sign.
Voting is to be done on the website homegrownmoorestown.com/halloween.
Mount Holly
Mount Holly Township hosts The Great Halloween Tour of Mount Holly with a map of homes to visit.
It’s a house decorating tour and contest. Prizes are being donated by members of Main Street Mount Holly.
They ask that residents send a message with their name, address and the “frightful” name of your creation (if you give it a name).
Registration is to close at midnight Oct. 12 with judging to begin October 13. Voting is to close Oct. 26 at midnight and winners are to be announced Oct. 27.
The voting process is being set up via Google Forms. The link for this year’s form is to be provided Oct. 13.
Mount Laurel
Mount Laurel Township and Township Council invites residents to participate in the second annual “Spooktacular” house decorating contest.Categories include: Best Use of Theme, Most Creative, Best Classic, Mayor's Choice Entry deadline and decorating deadline are both October 23.
A contest form must be filled out.
For questions, email Ashlyn Grisetti at [email protected].
Ocean City
The Halloween House Decorating Contest of Ocean City has a deadline of Oct. 20 at 4 p.m. for participants to register their homes.
Judging is to take place Oct. 22-23 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Judges are to look at overall creativity, special effects, lighting and theme of the decorations. First-place winners in each of those categories are to receive a $50 gift certificate to Downtown OCNJ.
The grand prize winner for overall best decorated house is to receive a $100 gift certificate for Downtown OCNJ and a prize package from Ocean City and the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce.
There is also to be a first-place winner in the Ocean City Business Division.
(This story has been updated to add more information)
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