HACKENSACK, N.J. — When the sounds of light, cheery music echo through the air in the summertime, children’s ears delightedly perk up as they make a dash to the ice cream truck. 

This Halloween, when North Jersey kids hear the theme songs corresponding to their favorite character from their window, they’ll know to open the front door of their home to see him or her in human form in costume dance their way towards them for a socially-distant greeting, photo opportunity, and gift basket presentation filled with crafts, toys, and plenty of candy. 

Whether parents will permit their kids to go trick-or-treating this year given the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, one Hackensack business is working to ensure all children experience the spooktastic joy of Halloween this year. StoryTime Productions, a year-old children’s entertainment company, is waving the wand on their newest socially-distanced package that they created with the pandemic in mind for Halloween that they’re calling “Doorstep Magic.”    

Serving the North Jersey region, the company will offer parents and caregivers a slate of characters from which to choose from Belle from “Beauty and the Beast,” Dora from “Dora The Explorer,” Spider-Man, and Superman, to name a few. Parents or guardians can make recommendations for a customized character for their child, but they must be made one month in advance of October 30 and 31 — the day the characters are scheduled to arrive.

“We make every minute count,” says Marketing Assistant Darlene Davis. “The character will come out with music playing loudly and dance as they get to the door.” 

StoryTime Productions started in the city a year ago serving Passaic, Morris, Bergen and Essex Counties. It employs actors passionate about the performing arts who enjoy getting into and voicing their characters to make children’s days. When the coronavirus pandemic surfaced shortly after the company’s formation, it was afforded the opportunity to get creative with their offerings given the then-state-imposed lockdown. In April, StoryTime sent the Easter Bunny to doorsteps and paid a local nurse and her two daughters a surprise visit from a princess as a show of appreciation for her hard work on the front lines.  

“Especially at a time when everything is still uncertain, lots of parents come up to us and say, ‘You put a smile on my kid’s face during a difficult time,’” said Davis. “It’s a dream of ours to be a part of this. We know how important it is for the parents to witness their kids smiling and laughing and having a good time and helping other people during this time. It’s been very fulfilling for us.”

For Christmas, StoryTime Productions is planning visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

To participate in Doorstep Magic, call 609-276-3310 or visit them on the web at storytimeproductions.net.