Some New Jersey cities will have trick-or-treating on October 30th. Here is the list.

It's one of New Jersey's most enduring traditions – the few places where Halloween and trick-or-treating don't mix.

Five communities in Ocean County are asking trick-or-treaters to go door-to-door looking for candy on Wednesday instead of Thursday this year. This is the day before Halloween, also known as Mischief Night in New Jersey.

The five cities make the same request to reschedule trick-or-treating each year to avoid conflict with the Toms River Fire Company's annual Halloween Parade No. 1, which is traditionally held on October 31.

The cities postponing trick-or-treating for October 30 are:

• Pine beach
• Beachwood
• South Toms River
• Tom's River
• Island Heights

All but Island Heights enroll children in the Toms Regional School District, which is among the largest K-12 school districts in New Jersey.

Children seem to appreciate the tradition, especially because candy is also handed out at the Halloween parade, said Carl Weingroff, assistant fire chief for the Toms River Fire Company.

“It kind of gives the kids a second night to go trick-or-treating,” said Weingroff, who directs the parade.

Other New Jersey cities have experimented with alternative trick-or-treating dates over the years. In Warren County, Harmony Township moved trick-or-treating to the Saturday before the holiday in 2022, but resumed its tradition on Oct. 31 the following year.

In view of the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the then-Gov. Chris Christie signed an executive order postponing trick-or-treating until November 5th. In 2011, an early snowstorm that downed power lines and trees also caused some communities to postpone trick-or-treating.

At the national level, there have been unsuccessful attempts to either move Halloween to the last Saturday in October or designate that date as National Trick-or-Treating Day but keep Halloween on October 31st.

Ocean County communities will return to traditional trick-or-treating on Oct. 31, when Halloween falls on a Sunday, Weingroff said. That's because in years when the holiday falls on a Sunday, the parade is moved to Saturday, sometimes at the request of local businesses.

This year's parade in Toms River is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Thursday and is expected to draw between 20,000 and 30,000 participants and spectators.

Parade organizers adhere to two rules: No political statements during the parade, either by candidates or anyone else leading up to Election Day. And no throwing away candy from moving vehicles.

“We view that as a pretty big safety factor,” Weingroff said of the candy-throwing ban.