Ocean City’s Halloween celebrations continue this week with a Halloween Fest at the Ocean City Free Public Library on Tuesday, the annual Halloween Parade on Thursday, and trick-or-treating on Saturday. The winning entries in this year’s Halloween House Decorating Contest will be on display all week.

The library will host its Halloween Fest, an enchanting celebration for witches, wizards and sorcerers of all ages, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The free family event at the library (1735 Simpson Avenue) 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 will start at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, October 29, and travel a route on Asbury Avenue from Sixth Street to 11th Street.

All are welcome to watch or participate in this fun community event, which is organized by the Exchange Club of Ocean City in partnership with the city. For those who want to join, please note the following divisions:

• Division 1 – Children or Groups of Children up to age 12
• Division 2 – Children or Groups of Children over 12 OR Family Groups OR Adult Groups
• Division 3 – Animals & Pets in Costume
• Division 4 – Organizations Marching in Costume (Churches, Non-Profits, Etc.)
• Division 5 – Cheerleaders & Drill or Dance Teams
• Division 6 – Non-Commercial Floats
• Division 7 – Commercial Floats

To register to be in the parade, email: oceancity_halloween@yahoo.com. Include your name, email / phone number, the division you are registering for, and a brief description of your marchers, costume and/or vehicle. For more information on the Halloween Parade, please visit ochp.blogspot.com.

Results of the seventh annual Halloween House Decorating Contest in Ocean City are in, and a list of entries is available at ocnj.us/halloween, so everybody can see the decorated homes before the holiday passes.

Hours for traditional trick-or-treating will be 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WELCOME NIGHT ON OCT. 28

The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce invites Ocean City residents to its annual Welcome Night 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the Ocean City Sports & Civic Center (Sixth Street and Boardwalk). The evening provides an opportunity for residents to meet Ocean City groups, businesses and organizations. The event is free and adjacent free parking is accessible from Fifth Street.

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR TRAIL OF TWO CITIES ON NOV. 7

The Trail of Two Cities 5-kilometer run/walk will be held for the 31st time on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. The popular 5K (3.1-mile) race offers spectacular views over the length of a point-to-point course from Ocean City to Somers Point. The route travels the length of the Route 52 causeway in the lanes usually reserved for cars.

Buses will be available at the finish line in Somers Point to transport runners to the start in Ocean City before the race and to transport runners back to Ocean City from Somers Point after the race.

Registration is open now, and discounted pre-registration fees are available through 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov 5. Online registration and further information are available at www.ocnj.us/race-events.   

TICKETS ON SALE FOR ‘CABARET’ ON NOV. 7-8

The Ocean City Theatre Company (OCTC) will present the legendary Broadway musical “Cabaret” on November 7 and 8 at the Ocean City Music Pier. The show will feature a talented cast of local high school performers in grades 9 to 12.

For this special production, the Music Pier will take on a new atmosphere. The traditional general seating area will be transformed with cabaret-style seating, inviting audiences into the world of Berlin’s Kit Kat Klub and creating an immersive setting for one of musical theatre’s most powerful and thought-provoking works.

“Cabaret is an extraordinary piece of theater because it entertains, while also challenging us to think,” OCTC Artistic Director Michael Hartman said. “For our students, this production is an opportunity to develop as performers and as humans.”

Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 7), and 2 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 8). Tickets are $15 and are available through oceancitytheatrecompany.com.