It’s that time of year again—when Downtown kids and their parents parade through Lower Manhattan in costume, spooking us all while hunting for goodies. Here’s where some of the family-oriented action and free sweet treats will be Saturday:
This year’s Washington Market Park parade will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Halloween. The festivities will include a live band and pony rides, and the parade will be led by Princess Katie and Racer Steve, a small children’s band. The Friends of Washington Market Park have a parade permit for Greenwich St. between the southern side of Greenwich and North Moore Sts.
The main entrance of the park at Duane St. is currently closed due to the construction of a new comfort station, so the children will march down Greenwich St. into the temporary park entrance at Reade St. The staff at Zucker’s Bagels will be waiting for them when they’re done marching, dressed up and giving away candy bags and mini chocolate bagels. The folks at Tribeca Treats at 94 Reade St. will also be giving out candy, and the Cosmopolitan Cafe on W. Broadway is holding a free apple festival from 2 p.m. until dark, where kids can enjoy candy apples and apple cider donuts, learn to press apples with a 150-year-old press, and go apple bobbing.
The annual FishBridge Park party, parade and trick or treating event is now in its 18th year. Little trick or treaters will gather at 6 p.m. at the garden on Dover St. between Water and Pearl Sts. Kids and their parents will then parade around the Seaport neighborhood gathering treats. Along the way, they may want to stop in at Barbarini on Front St., where staff will be waiting in the decorated restaurant with homemade cookies for the little ones. Following their lead and on the same street are ONDA, Il Brigante, and Bin 220.
At the World Financial Center, there will be trick or treating at Winter Garden stores from noon – 3 p.m.
The big Village Halloween Parade will begin to gather around 6:30 p.m. on Sixth Ave. south of Spring St. The parade up Sixth Ave. starts promptly at 7 p.m., but takes two hours to fully leave the staging area.
— Helaina N. Hovitz
