More Area Halloween Programs Around the Area

Courtesy of The Star Ledger via nj.com:

http://www.nj.com/messenger-gazette/index.ssf/2010/10/halloween_calendar_for_somerset_county.html

BRANCHBURG

At Raritan Valley Community College’s planetarium, there will be two shows:
* Spooky Skies will be presented on Saturday, October 30, at 3 and 7 p.m. It takes viewers back to medieval Ireland to explore the roots of the Halloween holiday, and then examines the sky to draw parallels between celestial objects and famous monsters. What does a werewolf have on an inescapable black hole, a noxious deadly planet like Venus, or a dangerous super nova?

* Fright Light will be presented on Saturday, October 30, at 4 and 8 p.m. Enjoy a Halloween concert featuring such songs as “Alive” by Meatloaf and “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. The 8 p.m. show contains more frightening content and is appropriate for audiences ages 13 and older.

BRIDGEWATER
* Ghost tours of the historic Van Horne House will be conducted on Friday, October 29, by local psychic Jane Doherty

The event is sponsored by the Heritage Trail Association and the 2010 Leadership Somerset class.

Learn about local folklore, listen to stories that describe actual historical events that occurred in the Van Horne House and take part in the first paranormal exploration of the building. Guests will also hear stories from historian and author Donald J. Peck, detailing possible paranormal activity at other historic central New Jersey sites.

Two tours will be held — at 7-8:30 p.m., which will be open to everyone, including children supervised by a parent or guardian, and 9-10:30 p.m., which will be only for adults and (adult-supervised) teens over age 16.

The cost is $10 for adults and teens over 16 (either session) and $5 per child under age 13 attending the early session. Parking is free and available both at the Van Horne House and at Target. Light seasonal refreshments will be served. Seating is limited, so reservations are required for each session. Call 732-356-8856 or go to heritagetrail.org/events_reg.htm.

Proceeds will be donated to the Heritage Trail Association to support historical and educational programs for the community.

* The American Heart Association will give a spooky twist to its Heart Walk rescheduled for Saturday, October 30, at Duke Island Park in Bridgewater. It had been postponed from October 2 by flooding.

Highlights will include a children’s Halloween costume contest along with healthy trick or treating, plus a moon bounce, face painting, health screenings and more. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the official ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Activities will continue throughout until noon.

Learn more and register online by visiting centralnjheartwalk.org or call 609-208-0020.

RARITAN
* The borough’s Halloween Parade and Costume Contest will take place on Sunday, October 31. Participants will gather in the Municipal Building parking lot at 6 p.m. and parade downtown.

Back at the Municipal Building, doughnuts, cider and candy will be served to all participants and spectators. A costume contest will follow with prizes being awarded in different age groups.

SOMERVILLE
* Kids are invited to put on their costumes and come downtown on Saturday, October 30, 2-5 p.m. and go trick or treating in the stores that have a pumpkin in the window.

There will be fun and games compliments of the borough library on the front lawn of the United Reformed Church at 100 W. Main St., and the Somerset Civic League will be handing out candy in Giardina Alley, which is off Main Street in the vicinity of Café Picasso and the East Star Buffet. The alley will be decorated, and a professional photographer will be there to take pictures of kids in their Halloween attire. Parents can arrange to have the photos e-mailed to them. Members of the 4-H will be on hand to act as guides and escorting Sparkee and possibly Slider, the Somerset Patriots’ mascots, as they walk around downtown meeting their admirers.

This event is a production of the Somerville Business and Professional Association, coordinated by Mike Del Gaudio of the Bread Basket Deli.

* A Halloween party will take place at the Somerville YMCA on Friday, October 30, 7-9 p.m. There will be a DJ, snacks, crafts and a haunted house. Children and adults are encouraged to wear a costume. This event is free and open to everyone. Families are asked to bring a canned good item for the needy.