HALLOWEEN SAFETY

Recreation’s Backyard Movie night is CANCELLED tonight due to inclement weather.

Marlboro Township encourages residents to become familiar with guidance released by the NJ Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine whether they will participate in trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities this year.

To maintain public health and encourage residents to celebrate Halloween safely this year, please consider the following guidelines:

You Decide

We understand that not everyone may feel comfortable with trick-or-treating this year, so we have designed signs (linked below) for residents to print and place in on mailboxes, windows, doors or other visible areas for trick-or-treaters to identify whether you are welcoming them or not.

**Please note that there are no specified hours for Trick or Treating in Marlboro Township.  Residents can let neighbors know when/if they are welcoming trick-or-treaters by posting the appropriate sign (linked below) in a visible location. Our normal evening Halloween curfew guidelines remain in place and are detailed below. 

TRICK-OR-TREATERS WELCOME

Those interested in participating in trick-or-treating are asked to place the “Trick-or-Treaters Welcome” sign on your mailbox, window, door or other visible location.  We also suggest that your turn on your outside lights after dark. 

DOWNLOAD: TRICK OR TREATERS WELCOME SIGN

SO SORRY. MAYBE NEXT YEAR

Those who are not interested in participating are asked to place the “So sorry. Maybe Next Year” sign on your mailbox, window, door or other visible location.  We also suggest that you turn off your outside lights after dark. 

DOWNLOAD: MAYBE NEXT YEAR SIGN

Trick-or-Treating Hours and Safety Guidelines

Normal Halloween curfew guidelines are in place.  As per Marlboro Ordinance, no one under the age of 18 shall be permitted in any public place, street or property in the Township between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. from October 29 to November 1 unless such person is going to or returning home from work, night school, fraternity or church or school meetings, or a doctor’s office unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian over 20 years old. To read the Ordinance in its entirety, please visit https://www.ecode360.com/12874629

No one should participate in Trick-or-Treating if they or a household member have a known exposure to COVID-19, are sick/symptomatic, or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not yet met the criteria for discontinuing isolation. For the safety all, residents who choose to participate in trick-or-treating are encouraged to be aware of the recently-released Halloween Health & Safety Tips from the CDC and Halloween Guidance from NJDOH and adhere to the following:

Going door-to-door

  • Limit your group to current household members, stay local, and practice social distancing.  Maintain a safe distance from other groups and wait to approach a house until the previous group has left.
  • Trick-or-treaters are asked to please take note of trick-or-treating signs posted and not approach houses with "So Sorry. Maybe Next Year" signs displayed. Please be respectful of others and their decisions to participate/not participate in trick-or-treating this year.
  • Do not consume any candy until it has been inspected by an adult and you have thoroughly washed your hands. Discard treats that are not commercially packaged.   

Passing out treats

  • Individuals choosing to pass out candy are encouraged to wear face coverings and wash hands or use sanitizer frequently. 
  • Consider making individual goody bags or passing out candy separately rather than having children put hands in communal bowl. 

Halloween face coverings

  • Per the CDC, a Halloween costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask or face covering. Costume masks can be used if it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose. 
  • If face coverings are worn under costume masks, please make sure it does not create breathing problems. If it does, discard the costume mask. 
  • Consider wearing a Halloween-themed cloth mask. 

By working together, we can enjoy a safe and happy Halloween!