Shopping for sweet treats on Martha’s Vineyard

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— Photo by Katryn Yerdon

What to hand out to those joyous trick-or-treaters on Halloween?

Here on the Island, it can become an even bigger question based upon your location. Some of us live in a densely populated, well-lit area that the majority of kids will travel to, while others live in a more peaceful secluded area where you will see no costumes on Halloween or at the very most a special, well known set of children who are making a special pilgrimage to your home to treat you. These two demographics can call for two very different bowls of treats.

For the high impact areas, you might choose to take advantage of the great bulk, pre-packaged, name-brand candy selections at both Stop & Shop and Cronig’s. Stop & Shop has Hershey’s Snack Size or Mars or Nestle Halloween Fun Size Candy on sale, 2 for $5 through tonight, Oct. 27. After tonight, you will have to check their weekly flyer in this paper for their next selection of candy on sale for Halloween.

Cronig’s has a vast candy selection available for you that includes a party bag of Hershey Kisses to the full line of popular snack-sized candies such as Kit Kats and Snickers. Some unique options they also have are Animal Cracker Ghost Snack Bags (20 packages per bag), Halloween Oreos that you could package yourself in their Halloween snack bags (25 per box for $1.29).

For the smaller populations of trick or treaters, or for the person who wants to spearhead a truly memorable experience, you can upgrade that candy selection to something made here on-Island. For those who love the soft, rich taste of fudge, Murdick’s would be the top place to get your treats. Included in their selections, which they have mastered since their inception in 1887, is their famous Peanut Brittle, Double Chocolate fudge, and my favorite, the Rocky Road fudge. Keep in mind they do ship, so if you have a loved one far away, sending a Halloween treat is a welcomed possibility. For more information you may visit them at their shops, from 10 am to 6 pm in Vineyard Haven on the corner of Main Street and Union Street, or in Edgartown on North Water Street (the Oak Bluffs store is already closed for the season). For any questions you may contact them at 888-55-FUDGE, and a side note is that you can still get some of their yummy ice cream at the Vineyard Haven Shop.

A special confection shop that seems to have been made for this holiday is New Moon Magick’s Enchanted Chocolates. Located at 4 Chapman Avenue in Oak Bluffs, you can spend some time choosing from their unique selections this Thursday through Monday from 12 noon to 5:30 pm. Some of their seasonal confections currently being offered range from Goblin Nonpareils; Halloween-themed lollipops in the shape of witches, cats, and ghosts; to a truly witchy treat of Chocolate Pentacles that includes a pentacle charm attached to the bag, and Chocolate Runes ($10 a bag). For an additional $3, you can have a custom-made pewter Island charm attached to a bag of chocolates. This charm option is new as of this week, so head in to be one of the first to get one. For more information, their phone number is 508-693-8331.

Also in Oak Bluffs is Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium. Smiles will be had with their homemade chocolates, from truffles to barks, or a pick from their flavorful jellybeans, licorice, or fruit slices. Unique options consist of their always available, large variety of sugar-free chocolates, and special for Halloween is themed-molded chocolates, lollipops, and candies. You may reach them at 508-696-0008, and keep in mind that they will be closing on Sunday for the season, so if you have a favorite, you better stock up now for the winter. This weekend’s hours are Thursdays from 12 noon to 6 pm, Fridays & Saturdays from 12 noon to 8 pm, and Sunday from 12 noon to 6 pm, at which time they will be closed until the spring.

Chilmark Chocolates, an Island staple, is still open Thursdays through Sundays from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm. If you live down-Island, it definitely is worth the trip and make sure to get some chocolate caramels or a sampler box for yourself if you deserve it. They are located at 19 State Road in Chilmark and you may reach them by phone at 508-645-3013 for any questions.

Good Ship Lollipop, at 64 Circuit Ave., is still offering their exemplary confections Sunday through Thursday from 11 am to 7 pm and Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 8:30 pm. Choose from their homemade chocolates like Coconut Haystacks or their Sea Salt Licorice. They even have a wide selection of old fashioned candy that brings back fond memories of penny candy. Their phone number is 508-693-0326.

Happy Halloween!