Ghouls and goblins are expected to hit Washington Square Park on Wed., Oct. 31. Costumed children, accompanied by their parents, will feast in an afternoon filled with face painting, goodie bags and live entertainment at the 17th annual Washington Square Park Children’s Halloween Parade. It’s one of several free children’s Halloween events this year in the Village.
Directly under the Washington Square arch, the Halloween march around the park will begin at 3 p.m. New York University’s cheerleaders, dance teams and Pipes and Drums bagpipe brigade are expected to perform for the children at this event.
The two-hour-long parade, organized by N.Y.U. and Community Board 2, has been an alternative to the more vivacious, evening Halloween extravaganza held on Sixth Ave. The children’s Halloween parade on Fifth Ave. and Washington Square Park North, draws in a more intimate 1,200 children compared to Sixth Ave.’s parade of over two million.
This year’s grand marshals for the children’s parade are Scott Stringer, Manhattan borough president, Brad Hoylman, chairperson of C.B. 2, and Gary Parker, director of N.Y.U. community affairs. New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, last year’s grand marshal, and Assemblymember Deborah Glick are expected to attend as well.
Children will be treated to bags of candy and other activities following the end of the march.
In addition to the children’s Halloween parade, Hudson River Park will be holding its 9th annual Pier of Fear, a free haunted house at Pier 54 viewable to parents and children on Sat. and Sun., Oct. 27 and Oct. 28 from noon to 9 p.m. Though the haunted house, located on 14th street and the Westside Highway, will be free, there are limited tickets available and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Inside the haunted house, will be a “Maze of Horror,” with special effects lighting up rooms that will spook and excite guests. There will also be reasonably priced activities in addition to the haunted house.
There will also be the West Village Children’s Halloween Festival on Sun., Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bleecker playground at Bleecker and Hudson Sts.
Margarita Lopez
