The Hammonton Arts & Music Festival showcases live music, art vendors, short films and other activities on Horton Street every May.
And as the Art Club of Hammonton wrapped up its fifth year, the group was asked if it could do a similar festival with a Halloween vibe in the fall.
“It was a no-brainer for us,” club president Don Swenson said.
The idea came to life with an anonymous donor and the club presented its inaugural Hamm-O-Ween: A Night of Artistic Mischief on Oct. 4. It included a vendor market, costume contest, beer garden, craft pumpkin painting, a scavenger hunt, origami bats, poke-a-ghost and the mischief room.
The night also featured a lineup of performances: Allegory Dance Theatre kicked things off, and “A Song,” by Mary Macabre, was next. Mary is a pin-up “ghoul” – or gal – who got her burlesque start in Florida and mixes her love of horror movies, music and burlesque into a “potion” she drinks every night before bed, according to the art club.
“Valkyrie Falciani’s Storytime” followed with chilling tales, and on the main stage, Lady White Rat – a hard-rock power from the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, region – performed with fire dancers Nicole Diana and Latoya Mathis.
The Art Club of Hammonton’s mission is to activate the art curious, unleash their creativity and engage them in event-driven initiatives. It aims to inspire, connect and develop a community that encourages artistic growth and collaboration, according to its website.
Ahead of Hamm-O-Ween, the club hosted a Paint a Blueberry Jack O’ Lantern for residents to help decorate for the event’s grand entrance. It was free and open to all ages at the Canoe Club.
“It’s a play on what Hammonton is known for,” Swenson explained of adding blueberries.
In a town that’s known as the Blueberry capital of the world, the Greater Hammonton Chamber of Commerce hosts a Red, White & Blueberry Festival every June, a one-stop summer celebration of the town’s heritage.
The event draws on average about 10,000 visitors from all over the East Coast to the high school and will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year.
Downtown Hammonton’s fall lineup of activities began in September and included Poocha-Palooza, a lively community celebration of dogs and their owners; a Main Street Hammonton Cornhole tournament; the Fiesta, El Tianguis and Community Market, a vibrant open-air event that celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month; and a town-wide yard sale.
And there’s more. Don’t miss out on these upcoming events:
Oct. 11: 5 to 10 pm. Hammonton Harvest Concert at Mount Carmel Grounds, a fall celebration with live music from GoodMan Fiske, quick bites from local food trucks and a beer garden with local breweries and distilleries.
Oct. 17: 5 to 8 pm. Haunted Hammonton Ghost Stories: Gangsters, Bootleggers, Mafia, Oh My! The evening starts at Casciano coffee bar and features eerie, spine-tingling tales that explore Hammonton’s haunted history of crime. It’s free and includes refreshments. Rain date is Oct. 24.
Oct. 24: 6 to 8 pm. Hammonton Drug Alliance Trunk or Treat – 236 Bellevue Ave. – a family-friendly event where kids can trick or treat from creatively decorated car trunks, play games and safely celebrate the spooky season.
Oct. 25: 2 to 4 pm. Downtown Hammonton Trick or Treat on Central Avenue, another activity that is family friendly, celebrates downtown with trick or treating at local businesses; music and games; and costume contests for children, pets and adults.
Oct. 29: 7 pm. Line the streets in your favorite costume for the 49th annual Kiwanis Halloween parade down Bellevue Avenue. Rain date is Oct. 30.
MainStreet Hammonton is a nationally accredited organization committed to preserving Hammonton’s character while driving its economic vitality and making it a destination for residents, visitors and businesses alike.
For more information about the group and its upcoming initiatives, visit downtownhammonton.com or its social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram.
