On Halloween, Columbia Avenue has always been one of the busiest and most popular streets in our area for trick-or-treaters and their families, with hundreds of children regularly attending. Based on numerous requests from parents and residents, and the desire to keep everyone as safe as possible, Hopewell Borough has planned the closure of Columbia Avenue, as well as several surrounding streets this Halloween to create a safe, pedestrian-only walkable Halloween area.
Columbia Ave. and the cross streets of Seminary Ave., Princeton Ave., and Maple St. will be closed to vehicular traffic on Friday, October 31st from 5:30pm to 9:00pm and become a pedestrian-only walkable “Halloween Zone.”
What: Columbia Avenue will be closed to cars to create a pedestrian-only “Halloween Zone”
Where: Columbia Avenue and surrounding neighborhood, Hopewell NJ 08525
When: Friday, October 31, 2025, 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The Borough has been working with the Hopewell Township Police Department, Hopewell Elementary School, Hopewell Fire Department/EMS, and Hopewell Valley Office of Emergency Management to plan a safe and fun evening for everyone, with what we hope is minimal disruption to residents. Hopewell Police will be on patrol all evening to ensure a safe and enjoyable time for all. Emergency vehicles will have access to the area as needed.
Street closure of Columbia Avenue will start at the edge of the EMS/Ambulance driveway on Columbia Ave and end at the near corner of Elm Street and Columbia Avenue. All of the streets normally used to access Columbia Avenue from Broad Street, i.e.: Seminary Ave., Princeton Ave., and Maple St. will be blocked for access to Columbia Ave. during the event. Access to town from Princeton Ave. will be routed to East Prospect St. and down to Elm St. to reach Broad Street. Detour signs will be posted to direct traffic around the Halloween Zone. Parking will be available at Hopewell Elementary for visitors and residents who need to access their cars.
“We look forward to celebrating Halloween as a community every year. This will be a special year with the addition of the family-friendly, pedestrian-only Halloween Zone” – Councilwoman Debra Stuhler.
“I’m excited to join the Columbia Avenue families this year to hand out treats to our trick-or-treaters! Thank you to Councilmembers Stuhler, Hook and Weaver for putting this event together, the volunteers from our Recreation Committee, our first responders at Hopewell Fire/EMS, the Hopewell Valley Office of OEM, HES Principal Scott Brettell and especially the Hopewell Township Police Department for making this happen!” – Mayor Ryan Kennedy.
If you have any questions about the plans for the evening, please contact Borough Administrator Jerry Giaimis at (609) 466-3636 or [email protected]. We hope Borough families can participate in what could become a new Halloween tradition with decorations, costumes and yes… more candy! Borough Council, Hopewell Police, and the Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary will have tents set up along the route to give out treats.
