The Haddonfield Night Market returned for its third year on October 24th, 2024, transforming Kings Highway into a spooky street with over 50 vendors featuring jewelry, artwork, potions, clothing, and more. 

Taking place from 4-8 p.m., the festival was placed alongside many restaurants and local businesses, which I had the pleasure of visiting. 

The first place that stuck out to me was Meraki Market, a small business located in the heart of Haddonfield. In front of the store was an eye-catching Lunar Photo Op. When I went inside, I was greeted with a warm atmosphere, and the store was decorated for the spooky occasion. I encountered a cart with crystals and various herbs for spells, and when I went to purchase a bracelet, the cashier saged my item for good luck. 

After my visit to Meraki Market, I decided to grab a bite at Passariello’s, a popular restaurant with three locations in the South Jersey area. Featuring a unique way of serving food, similar to a food court, the restaurant serves Italian foods such as pizzas, sandwiches, and pasta. When I entered the restaurant, I was handed a card to purchase my items. When I finished my food and went to pay, I gave the card to the hostess who used the card to scan the items that I ordered. 

After this, I decided to check out some of the unique vendors that the festival offered. I ran into a vendor with spooky crocheted animals, called Gorgeous Hooks, and I purchased a bee dressed as a monster. With my purchase came a certificate of adoption as well as a stackable crayon/pencil with multiple colors. 

The festival featured more than just vendors and local shops; there were events and people dressed up walking around. One particular costume stuck out of the crowd (literally). Two people on stilts were dressed as monsters (you can see a photo of them above). There was also a projector screen for a movie broadcasted for kids. 

Overall, the night market was unique to other festivals that have taken place around South Jersey. It featured many unique goods that are not commonly found in other festivals (or stores for that matter) and is a great Halloween activity for all ages.