Parsippany Guide To Haunted Houses, Hayrides, Other Halloween Frights

PARSIPPANY, NJ — There are plenty of places around Parsippany to experience all the Halloween frights. Our scary guide includes everything from festivals to trunk or treats, some for adults and others suitable for children.

Here’s what’s going on leading up to Halloween (the 31st is on a Tuesday, so plan accordingly):

Parsippany's Trunk or Treat:

• Where: Veteran's Memorial Park, located at 1855 Route 46.
• When: Oct. 31 from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Admission: The community event has no admission fee. However, each child attending must supply a bag of factory-sealed candy or non-food treats. Registration for trunks and tables is required and closes on Oct. 27 at 5 p.m. Click here to register.
• Features: Trunk-or-treating is pretty simple. Instead of going from home to home, children collect candy from vehicles that are often festively decorated.

Morristown Official Halloween Bar Crawl:

• Where: Horseshoe Tavern (36 Speedwell Ave.) + Various Venues
• When: Oct. 28, from 3 to 9 p.m.
• Admission: Register here
• Features: The bar crawl consists of visiting several bars in the city, each with its unique Halloween drink specials, decor and spooky surprises.

Morris Township's Annual Trunk-or-Treat and Halloween Movie

• Where: Ginty Field (45 Woodland Ave.)
• When: Oct. 28, at 3 p.m.
• Admission: Any resident interested in handing out candy from their vehicle must register on community pass in advance.
• Features: A big-screen movie plus a trunk or treat make for a fun day in Morris Township. Collect treats from trunks on Dwyer Lane, then gather for a showing of "Scooby-Doo" on Ginty Field at dusk.

Morristown Game Vault Halloween Cosplay Nite:

• Where: 22 South Street, Morristown
• When: Oct. 27, at 7 p.m.
• Admission: During the special event, between 7 and 11 p.m., attendees can enter with a special discounted rate of only $20.
• Features: This is an all-ages event to celebrate the season, compete for prizes, and play some retro games. Cosplay, homemade, and store-bought costumes are all welcome. Costumes are not required to receive the discounted rate but are always highly encouraged. The costume contest itself will be at 8:45 p.m.

Halloween Party With Mama D & The Vexations:

• Where: Laundromat Bar, 4 Dehart Street
• When: Oct. 28 at 07:30 p.m.
• Features: Don’t miss Morristown’s biggest Halloween party. What will the band be wearing this year? Find out at the coolest live-music venue in town.

Florham Park Rotary Halloween Dog Parade and Costume Contest:

• Where: Florham Park Gazebo, 111 Ridgedale Avenue
• When: Oct. 14, from 1 to 4 p.m.
• Features: Special guests will include McGruff, the Crime Dog, and a presentation by the Morris County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit. Categories include the funniest, most creative, scariest, cutest, and best-in-show.

Experts say some of us are hard-wired to enjoy the full-body experience of being scared, as long as we know we’re in no real danger. Adrenal glands go into overdrive when we’re frightened, triggering a rush of dopamine and endorphins, the “pleasure” hormones.

That’s different from the “bad fear” triggered in dangerous situations, according to Cleveland Clinic psychologist Chivonna Childs.

“There’s also a good side to fear, and that’s what scary movies, true crime and haunted houses tap into,” Childs wrote on a Cleveland Clinic blog. “We understand that there’s an end to those experiences, that the bear’s not gonna get us. We know that going through a haunted house is just for fun, that it’s only people in costumes.

“But it still rings those bells for adrenaline, endorphins and dopamine. You experience the euphoria because you know you’re safe.”