Halloween Fun Had With Pumpkin Patch Event At Absecon Lighthouse

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — More than 430 people enjoyed a day of Halloween fun on Oct. 24 at the Second Annual Pumpkin Patch Event hosted by Atlantic Cape Community College’s Inlet Community Development Corporation (CDC) in collaboration with Absecon Lighthouse and Oceanside Family Center.

The grounds surrounding the 228-step, 171-foot tall Absecon Lighthouse, which was built in 1854 and first lit on January 15, 1857, were converted into a Halloween haven filled with numerous fun attractions for children and their families, alike, Atlantic Cape said in a news release.

Families with kids dressed up as princesses, Mario, ghosts, goblins and more attended the event that featured games, activities and food from pumpkin painting, a homemade hay bale maze and rides on the trackless train to bouncing on inflatables and face painting. Local business Hot Bagels served their world-famous bagels and hot chocolate while DJ Dahve provided live musical entertainment.

“The Annual Pumpkin Patch event builds a sense of community by bringing people together and
celebrating neighbors. It highlights the importance of community, bringing neighbors together to build connections and share in the season’s festivities,” said Michael Intrieri, project lead, Inlet CDC. “It was amazing to watch people build connections and create memories in a public setting and it’s important to show our kids how important it is to be a community. Holidays like this provide a perfect time to remind us how important the people around us are.”

The Inlet CDC and Oceanside Family Center offered information on various community and economic services that are available to members of the Inlet Neighborhood.

“The Inlet CDC offers various programs for those looking to build a future in the community, through home ownership programs, small business grants, clean & safe efforts, neighborhood park and infrastructure improvements, human capital programs and other economic development initiatives,” said Intrieri.

The Inlet CDC is a 501(c)(3) that was established in mid-2023. The Inlet Revitalization Action Strategy includes many community-endorsed initiatives that have been identified as critical for improving outcomes for neighborhood residents and businesses. Public meetings, focus groups, and individual interviews were conducted with Inlet residents and business owners with the goal of developing a strategy that was truly resident driven.

Visit acinlet.org for more information.