M&M'S® Returns To Birthplace Newark, N.J. With Citywide Halloween Fun

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., Oct. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- From choosing the perfect costume to finding the best spots for trick-or-treating, Halloween is all about fun. However, for some communities, Halloween isn't a moment of celebration but a missed opportunity to have a scary good time. So this year, M&M'S® is bringing its trademark colorful fun to Newark, New Jersey – the birthplace of America's favorite chocolate candies and a vibrant community that deserves some fun.

Today, Mars Chocolate North America announced M&M'S Brand will sponsor a two-day Halloween celebration the entire community of Newark can enjoy, complete with a Halloween pop-up M&M'S store, 15,000 free costumes, celebrity appearance from recording artist Kelly Rowland and one thing that can make any Halloween more colorful – free M&M'S® Chocolate Candies.

"Newark is a community right in our own backyard with a strong historical connection to M&M'S," said Tanya Berman, Senior Brand Director, M&M'S Brand. "I can't imagine a better way to celebrate our shared heritage than by creating an event that will enable the entire community to come have a good time this Halloween."

Halloween Pop-Up Store Comes to Newark
M&M'S will kick off its two-day Halloween celebration with the launch of the brand's first-ever Halloween themed pop-up store in the heart of downtown Newark.

Residents are invited to visit the M&M'S store, located at 744 Broad Street, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27 and Wednesday, Oct. 28. The store will distribute up to 15,000 free children's costumes – made for children ages 12 and under – on a first-come, first-serve basis. The store also will hand out free candy to those in attendance.

To receive costumes and candy all children must be accompanied by an adult.

M&M'S Creates Family Fun Zone Featuring Celebrities
The fun doesn't stop there. In partnership with the City of Newark and the United Way of Essex County, the brand will host the M&M'S Family Fun Zone from 4 – 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the John F. Kennedy Recreation Center located at 211 West Kinney Street. The event will feature family-friendly activities, including face painting, caricature drawing and balloonists plus free candy.

But that's not all. The evening will be headlined with a celebrity appearance from Grammy Award winning recording artist, Kelly Rowland.

"Mars Chocolate North America, makers of M&M'S, has been a long-standing supporter of New Jersey and I'm thrilled they have turned their attention to our city this Halloween," said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. "M&M'S is offering the residents of Newark a safe and family-friendly environment to have some fun, and we hope it will be an event this community will remember for years to come."

The M&M'S Family Fun Zone will be open to attendees 18 and younger. A parent or guardian must accompany children 12 and under.

M&M'S Maintains Support After Halloween
To keep the fun going after the event, M&M'S will donate $25,000 to the United Way of Essex County to support community-based programs.

"Our partnership with M&M'S represents our mission to continue to serve the community by building partnerships that can make a difference," said Catherine Wilson, Acting CEO of United Way of Essex and West Hudson. "Thanks to the donation from M&M'S, we'll have the resources to serve more children and families in the community."

For more information on M&M'S Family Fun Zone event, Newark residents should stay tuned to our Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/mms) and follow the conversation on Twitter (@mmschocolate) using the hashtag #HalloweenbyMMS.

People who are unable to make it to Newark can still get in on the Halloween fun by sharing a photo of how you celebrate Halloween, using #HalloweenbyMMS, for a chance to receive a sweet surprise.

About Mars, Incorporated

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company.  In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of  building a business based on the objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders" – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, CESAR®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® and LIFESAVERS® mints.  Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA® and WISDOM PANEL®.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com.  Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars, linkedin.com/company/mars.

SOURCE Mars, Incorporated

Related Links

http://www.mars.com