Plenty of treats, but no tricks, will be on hand for bicyclists young and old who take part in the Lawrence Hopewell Trail’s annual Trail and Treat Ride on Oct. 21.
Families can gather at Village Park in Lawrence Township for the event, which runs from 3-5 p.m. They can meet in the Bergen Street parking lot. The event is open to all, not just Lawrence or Hopewell Valley residents.
The event includes treats, goody bags, Halloween crafts, face painting and live music by the School of Rock, and a bicycle ride or walk on the trail. The fee is $5 per person age 2 and over (admission fee only applies to children). Admission is free for children under 2. Helmets are required.
Registration online is suggested by going to https://Lhtrail.org/TrailandTreat18. Onsite registration may be available on the day of the event. There is no rain date.
Children who are at least 6 years old can ride a 1-mile loop of the trail. There is a shorter loop for younger children. It is not necessary to ride a bicycle, however. Participants may walk, ride a scooter or use roller skates. Parents with bicycle trailers are welcome, as are baby strollers.
“From its inception, the Lawrence Hopewell Trail has been dedicated to providing a safe and family friendly trail,” said Jennifer Peck-Nolte, who serves on the Lawrence Hopewell Trail board. She helped to organize the event with board members Jill Young and Lindsay Bohra.
The goal of the Trail and Treat Ride is to provide a safe, fun and healthy way to celebrate Halloween, said Eleanor Horne, who is the co-president of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corporation.
The Trail and Treat Ride will also serve to introduce the Lawrence Hopewell Trail to the community, Horne said. It is designed to be a community magnet that draws people together, rather than driving them apart, she said.
“The young moms on our board encouraged us to have an activity for young children, especially since the Full Moon Bike Ride was for those 12 years and older. Trail and Treat is for those 2 to 12 years old,” Horne said.
The Lawrence Hopewell Trail, which will be 22 miles when completed, links Lawrence and Hopewell townships. It is a combination of paved and stone-dust services that provides opportunities for fun and fitness, and also serves as an alternative to travel by car, Horne said.