addamsfest westfield Archives - Luxury Homes/Top Towns

October brings all things spooky to light. But in Westfield, this month has special meaning. We celebrate cartoonist and former resident Charles Addams. With a global pandemic taking place right now, organizers needed to come up with a different way to honor him. So, they created an Alt-AddamsFest for 2020. Haunted trails, scary movies, painted windows in downtown shops. They all make appearances in the upcoming weeks. Just recently, organizers announced even more fun added to their schedule of events. But they need your help to make them happen.

A pumpkin decorating contest and special drawing contest add to the fun you'll find in Westfield for AddamsFest 2020 this month.

More Alt-AddamsFest 2020 Fun

Painted Pumpkin Contest

Part of our Alt-AddamsFest festivities includes a walk along the Painted Pumpkin Path in Mindowaskin Park. If you fancy yourself a bit of an artist or simply want to be a part of the fun, submit your ideas for a painted pumpkin to publicart@westfieldnj.gov by October 9th. As a tip of the hat to Westfield’s 300th birthday, organizers plan on choosing 30 pumpkins from all submissions received to represent each decade of our city’s existence. If they choose your submission, you will need to paint it (no carving allowed) on a pumpkin and submit it before the official Mystical Midowaskin Painted Pumpkin Path opens on October 25th.

Need a pumpkin for the contest or to decorate your Westfield home? Visit Williams Nursery on Springfield Ave. They’re open from 10 am to 5 pm daily. Visitors over the age of two must wear masks. Social distancing is strongly encouraged. If you feel ill, please stay home and come back when you feel better.

Drawing Contest

Another way to be a part of the Alt-AddamsFest fun is to submit your drawing in the Draw This in Your Style Addams Family Challenge. You don’t have to be a pro to participate. Simply visit the AddamsFest website to view Charles Addams’ Addams Family portrait. Then, make it your own by recreating it in a style of your choosing. The only limits are your imagination. Once you complete your vision, upload it to your Instagram account using #DrawThisInYourStyle_Addams as a tag. It must be uploaded by October 20th for consideration in the DTWYS contest. Winners receive fun prizes and become part of a virtual art exhibit later this month.

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes

Even with New Jersey in lockdown for several weeks due to COVID-19, this year seems to have flown by. In just under three weeks, we enter October. That means pumpkin spice lattes, cooler temperatures, leaves falling from the trees, and AddamsFest. Yes, the annual tribute to Westfield’s favorite son returns next month with a pandemic twist.

AddamsFest 2020 (aka “Alt AddamsFest”)

It seems rather appropriate that we honor a man whose work embraced the macabre during this, a macabre year. In keeping with COVID-19 safety recommendations, organizers needed to tweak some fan-favorites from past celebrations. Instead of large gatherings like the parade, Family Fun Zone, and Pugsley’s Trunk or Treat like last year, this year’s Alt AddamsFest chose events that allow everyone to enjoy themselves while still safely keeping a social distance from others.

Wicked Windows of Westfield

When you shop in downtown Westfield next month, keep an eye out for creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky decorations in the shop windows. You can never be too sure what you’ll see there.

Haunt Your House

What better way to get into the spirit of the holiday than with this fun AddamsFest contest? Decorate your Westfield home in any way you want and enter the Haunt Your House Contest. Community members drive by each house entered in the contest to help determine the winner. Registration for this event begins on Monday, September 14th. Just visit the AddamsFest website to sign up. Judging begins on October 8th.

Mystical Mindowaskin

Take a stroll through Mindowaskin Park anytime in October along the Painted Pumpkin Path. Keep an eye out for magical fairy doors hidden in some of the trees around the park. Visit the Enchanted Forest and see the Addams Family house located right there on Mindowaskin pond. Plus, festival organizers plan a few other surprises around the park as well.

Tamaques Haunted Trail

The weekend before Halloween, load up the car and take your loved ones on a drive through the Tamaques Haunted Trail in Tamaques Park. The younger kids will love the more age-appropriate displays and immersive events happening during the daylight hours. But, for the older kids (Mom and Dad included), the night-time turns things a little spookier. This is one AddamsFest event you won’t want to miss!

Dudley’s Drive-In

Movie theaters took a real beating over the last few months. Drive-in movie theaters, on the other hand, experienced a bit of a resurgence. They allow you to enjoy movies on the big screen again while remaining at a safe distance from others. The South Avenue train station hosts a double feature on each of the last two Fridays of October (the 23rd and the 30th). On the 23rd, watch The Addams Family Movie (of course) at 6:30 pm followed by the chilling classic Psycho at 9 pm. On the 30th, enjoy a screening of Hotel Transylvania at 7 pm and then the campy classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 9 pm. As you can see, the early screenings are for younger kids. But they didn’t forget about the older demographic with a more adult-themed late night feature.

That’s just a small sample of what you can expect at this year’s Alt AddamsFest 2020. Check back on the event website next month to see what else they have cooking up for you.