Fabulous Photos of Halloween in Lambertville, New Jersey

The last thing most people think of when they think of New Jersey is a town like Lambertville, filled with restored Victorian houses, safe walkable streets, and a vibrant community that turns the town into a special wonderland for both kids and grown ups at Halloween.

Perched on the banks of the Delaware River at New Jersey's western boundary, the town started life in earliest Colonial America as the terminus of a ferry across the Delaware, much used by travelers going between New York and Philadelphia.

The Delaware and Raratan Canal, built in the early 19th century, and the railroad which came through a bit later, made Lambertville a prosperous hub of commerce and transportation. Located smack in the middle of the main route between New York and Philadelphia, with a good transportation network, Lambertville soon boasted factories and farms which supplied goods and food to the growing cities. The town worthies built lovely Victorian villas to show off their prosperity while the factory workers occupied duplexes and cottages on the side streets. The basic layout of the town, done long before the birth of the automobile, makes this a wonderfully walkable community-- perfect for Halloween trick or treat activity and engendering a close knit sense of community among residents and visitors alike. Everybody smiles and says hello.

Though they still blow a noon whistle in Lambertville, both the factories and the railroad are long gone. The old canal towpath remains as a local recreation spot and the town has become an art and antiques center, attracting residents and week-end visitors to numerous galleries, restaurants and shops. The quaint streets and restored Victorian houses speak of another era.

So, it is no wonder, that at Halloween, residents of suburban cul-de-sacs and urban apartments bring their little ones to Lambertville, where the main streets are closed to traffic, police are on duty to monitor traffic flow, and welcoming residents wait with bags full of treats for kids of all ages. The whole town turns into one big Halloween party when the sun goes down on October 31st. It';s like a time machine back to a day of simple neighborly fun and everyone really enjoys it.

I am there every year walking around town or sitting on my front porch and passing out what seems like tons of candy. I also take pictures every year. I've delved into my Halloween collection to share the feeling of a Lambertville Halloween with you. There's a section on the best house decoration and another section showing kids of all ages doing the trick or treat thing. Hope you enjoy.

The Lambertville Halloween experience has become such a phenomenon that three local filmakers have done a documentary on it. Check out the trailer ffor it on the right-- you need to watch it full screen. . It shows some of the same locations I've taken pictures of plus a few more and it will give you an idea of the crowds and the feel of the celebration. The finished documentary debuted at the ACME screening Room in Lambertville-- on, you guessed it-- Halloween 2011.

While the decorations are fun, the most fun thing of all is seeing the kids,especially the little ones,enjoying the whole trick or treat experience. The whole town comes out to play. It is one big fabulous street party.

Everyone's invited, but if you come, get here early, find a place to park and plan to spend at least a couple of hours savoring the town. Ohhhhh yes there's lots to do and in addition to all the free candy being handed out, all the restaurants are open and the streets are full of revelers of all ages. And now for the pictures of the kids and costumes. Don't forget to check out the video at the end. It's a trailer for a film being made by three local film makers about the Lambertville Halloween phenomenon and it is very very cool.