No tricks, it’s all fun at local Halloween festivals, contests

By Greg Ellison

(Oct. 28, 2021) Youthful candy seekers will inundate both Ocean Pines and Berlin this weekend for trick-or-treating festivities leading up to Halloween on Sunday.

The fun kicks off on Friday in Ocean Pines during the “Trunk or Treat,” event in White Horse Park from 6-8 p.m.

Ghosts and goblins will linger overnight in White Horse Park and return on Saturday for a Halloween Fall Festival.

In addition to competing in a costume contest, attendees on Saturday can sink their teeth into hot dogs and burgers cooked on the grill by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City. Also hot pretzels will be available for purchase.

Recreation Supervisor Katie Goetzinger said the event gives community members of all ages the opportunity to show off their Halloween outfits.

“We look forward to seeing everybody’s costumes,” she said.

Other family-friendly activities on tap during the festival include a haunted hayride, carnival games, bounce house, pony rides and a petting zoo.

“Come take a hayride with Norbert Violante and Carol Ludwig,” she said.

The Halloween festival costume contest will be bracketed, with children ages 2 and under competing at 11:30 a.m., followed by ages 3-4 at noon, ages 5-7 at 12:30 p.m. and ages 8-10 at 1 p.m.

“There will be three winners from each age group,” she said. “Winners get a prize bag.”

On Halloween Sunday, the Town of Berlin will welcome costumed children seeking sweets from 5-7 p.m.

During the 5-7 p.m. period, Berlin will close Washington Street, between Main and West Streets, to through traffic.

Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said although Washington Street has been the epicenter of Berlin’s Halloween action in recent years, the revelry has widened in scope.

“It’s been spreading and all of Berlin is pretty popular.”

Berlin Police officials are asking drivers to exercise caution during the Halloween evening event, which usually attracts a large number of pedestrians, principally children prone to distraction due to an abundance of stimuli.

Additionally, police ask parents to be conscious of vehicular traffic and also select costumes less likely to interfere with peripheral vision or cause children to trip.

Wells said Berlin generally lures in thousands of costumed kids and parents for Halloween festivities.

“We’re expecting our usual crowd this year,” she said. “Halloween is always super fun in Berlin.”

In addition to advising parents to refrain from accepting homemade or unwrapped treats, the Berlin Police Department will also be conducting candy checks from 6:30-8 p.m. at Town Hall located at 10 William Street.

Berlin residents choosing not to hand out candy are asked to turn off porch lights.

“Berlin really gets into the holiday spirit,” she said. “People like to decorate and dress up.”

Preceding the trick-or-treat event in Berlin on Sunday, the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Halloween-themed parade staring at noon on Sunday.

The lineup of spookily outfitted classic cars, Jeeps and fire engines lurch northward out of the grass lot by Cathell Road at 12 p.m. and close out at White Horse Park.

The cost to register a vehicle is $15. For more information call the Ocean Pines Chamber at 410-641-5306 or email info@oceanpinescahmber.org.