Ventnor Firefighter Nick Steffanci took his family to the Trunk or Treat event.

VENTNOR – It was a perfect afternoon to have some fun by the beach. The city held its first-ever Trunk or Treat event Saturday, Oct. 19 on the beach-block of Newport Avenue. Organizers advised participating vendors to have enough candy for about 300 trick or treaters. There were so many people there, several had to make candy runs during the two-hour event.

“We’re thrilled with the turnout,” the mayor’s secretary Patricia Kedziora said. She helped organize the first-time event with City Clerk Lisa Hand. They and city Adminstrator Maria Mento dressed up as the “Hocus Pocus” witches and gave out candy along with about 30 other vendors and business owners who decorated the trunks of their vehicles with Halloween themes and gave away precious sweets.

Hundreds of children in costumes and their parents lined up along the rear of the library waiting to be admitted to the trunk or treat area.

“It was so nice,” parent Katie Costello said. “I like that they went all out to decorate their trunks.”

Heather Schultz who brought her daughter to the event said it was evident a lot of thought and effort was put into the displays and organizing the event.

“It was awesome,” she said.

Children lined up in the beachfront park to roast marshmallows for their s’mores, courtesy of the Ventnor City Fire Department, and the Cultural Arts Center provided children with little wooden pumpkins to paint.

Kim Siglin, who took her 3-year-old son Max to the event, said she was surprised to see so many people there.

“It was so successful, it will probably triple in size next year,” she said.

Patricia Kedziora said the children’s costumes were delightful to see.

“It was a great community effort for all involved,” she said.

Categories: Ventnor

Nanette LoBiondo Galloway

Award winning journalist covering news, events and people of Atlantic County for more than 20 years.