Halloween in Park Slope

—Howl-a-ween Pet Parade October 31st at 1pm (Old Stone House)

—Park Slope Civic Council’s Halloween Costume Contest (4pm in front of John Jay High School)

—Park Slope Civic Council’s Children’s Halloween Parade at 6:30 (starts at 14th Street and 7th Avenue)

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FUN FAMILY HALLOWEEN EVENTS IN PARK SLOPE NOT TO BE MISSED! New York City’s largest children’s Halloween Parade takes place in Park Slope on Saturday October 31st!

The Park Slope Civic Council, the Park Slope Chamber of Commerce, The Park Slope Farmer’s Market, Park Slope Parents, the Old Stone House, and The Puppeteers’ Cooperative are teaming up to make the 2009 Halloween festivities magical, memorable, and fun for the whole family!

Theresa Linnihan, Master Puppeteer from the Puppeteer’s Cooperative is working with local Park Slope schools to construct new, unique puppets to march in the parade. This year a 20-foot Mermaid will be the parade showpiece and will be surrounded by fish, sea horses and turtles. Theresa says, “We’re excited to work with the local schools as part of their afterschool curriculum and bring the fantasy that these puppets create to this parade.”

A Halloween Haunted House Tour will take place from October 27th- October 31st. The best decorated homes will be nominated by Park Slope residents on the Park Slope Civic Council’s website, parkslopeciviccouncil.org, and then added to a master map that can be downloaded. A twilight stroll with the map is suggested for the spookiest Halloween experience.

On October 31, the festivities begin with the very first Friends of Washington Park “Howl-a-Ween” Pet Parade from 12pm – 3pm. Registration takes place from noon-12:45 pm at the Old Stone House and the parade will begin promptly at 1pm. All proceeds from the $10 registration fee will support maintenance and programming in Washington Park.

At 4pm the Park Slope Civic Council Halloween Costume Contest will take place in front of the Secondary School for Law, Journalism, and Research (formerly John Jay High School). Costume categories range from “best theme,” to “best classic character,” to “best use of materials.” Winners will be given banners to display in the parade. “It’s amazing how creative and clever people can be,” says Melinda Morris, owner of Lion in the Sun and one of this year’s judges. After the contest there will be a musical performance of Ethan’s Motley Rockin’ Show. For rules, schedule, entry form, and a list of sponsors and costume categories, go to parkslopeciviccouncil.org/halloween-parade

THE PARADE ROUTE HAS CHANGED! The main event—the Annual Park Slope Civic Council Children’s Halloween Parade—kicks off at 6:30 pm. The parade route will begin at the corner of 7th Avenue and 14th Street, continue north on 7th Avenue, turn left on 3rd Street, cross 5th Avenue and end at the Old Stone House on the Washington Park field where the revelry will continue until 9 pm.
Additional participants to the parade include, GALLOP (who offers horse-centered therapies for people with physical, cognitive, psychological, and educational challenges), Greenwood Cemetery, who will march with giant Statue of Liberty and Minerva puppets, the Famous Accordion Orchestra as well as Paprika, Marlon Moore’s steel drum bands, and Gersh Kuntzman, the editor of the Brooklyn Paper as Master of Ceremonies for the Parade. With these new and exciting additions to the lineup, spectators wishing to join the parade are reminded to join at the back of the parade so they can fully enjoy the spectacle!

For more information on any of these events, please go to www.parkslopeciviccouncil.org or email
halloween@parkslopeciviccouncil.org.