One of Bordentown’s spookiest traditions returns again this Halloween season—the township Public Works Department’s Wailing Woods Haunted Hayride is back for the sixth straight year at Joseph Lawrence Park on Friday, Oct. 23 from 6 to 10 p.m.Department director Dean Buhrer and supervisor Dave Dietrich created the hayride in 2010. With the support of the town and residents who volunteer in various roles, Dietrich said, they have been able to keep the event free since its inception.“I originally got this idea from being a huge Halloween and horror fan,” he said. “Even as a kid, I would get upset about how much it cost to attend an event like this, and how far you would usually have to go.”This year, visitors can expect old favorites, as well as some new scares—stay alert for zombies, some figures from New Jersey folklore, ancient symbols and more as you travel through the park in the back of a wagon.“We keep the themes open, but it all still comes together,” Dietrich said. “It’s like taking a stroll into the woods at night, but these woods can read your mind and manifest your greatest fears.”In addition to the hayride, there will be music, food, vendors, activities for kids and a tarot card reader.The majority of the event’s actors and other volunteers are Public Works and Township employees, as well as their friends, families and other Bordentown residents.“That’s what makes it so great,” Dietrich said. “It is an event that is created by us, for us, not for a big payday or anything like that. I love how much out town loves Halloween, and we are proud to be one of the things people look forward to every year now.”The Public Works department is also accepting donations of props and other materials needed for the event. Items like masks, lights, fabric, mannequins, decorations and foam are at the top of the list, though Dietrich said he would appreciate anything Halloween or horror-related. If you would like to donate but are unsure about what to give, call the department at (609) 291-2133.—Samantha Sciarrotta
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