|
Halloween Parade Celebrates 70 Years Of Frights And Fun
By Jo Ann La Russo
 | | --Photo By Jo Ann La Russo Floats, costumes and creatures of all types delighted the thousands who turned out to watch the 70th Annual Halloween Parade, sponsored by Toms River Volunteer Fire Company No. 1. |
|
It was fright night in downtown Toms River this week at the 70th Annual Halloween Parade, sponsored by Toms River Volunteer Fire Company No.1, as thousands of spectators stood by to watch the parade of costumed characters crowd the streets.
The parade, billed as the second largest in the world, lived up to its name. Rows of chairs filled with spectators lined Washington and Main streets in an attempt for parade goers to get a good look at the wildly decorated floats and costumes that passed by.
Fran John and Dominic Brocado, Manchester, settled in for the evening. "This is wonderful," said the former Staten Island residents. "The parade reminds me of the (Greenwich) Village parade."
Hazel and Harold Burke, Toms River, settled in to watch and Darlene Burns, Toms River, stood near the reviewing stand in front of the Toms River Library to watch for her granddaughter, Porscha Valykeo, 14, a flag twirler and eighth grade student at Intermediate South in Beachwood. Family friends, Patti Smith of Manchester and Olga Livero, Lanoka Harbor, were also on hand to cheer her on.
"We love to see all the kids dressed up," said Grandma Burns. "We are here every year."
The parade was led by the Toms River Township Police Department and Chief Michael G. Mastronardy.
"Everything has come together this year," said Jen Weingroff, at the reviewing stand. "The weather is perfect, and we are ready to go," she said, as her dad, Ron Weingroff, directed marchers in line.
Blaring music, smoke and lots of orange and black dominated the endless array of freakish themed floats in the spectacle, along with a few classic cars, dancing monsters and cute babies in the crowd.
Local Scout chapters walked, rode on floats and waved banners. Ocean County Vocational School featured a dramatic dance routine. Beachwood Dazzlers danced down the route. Area emergency vehicles were decorated with cobwebs, spiders and pumpkins and local school marching bands and flag twirlers strutted their stuff, making the event a true community affair.
Barbara Anderson, Pine Beach, waited nervously for the parade to begin. Son, Brad, 12, plays the clarinet with the Intermediate South marching band.
"He is so excited," said Anderson, who set up her perch on Washington Street early.
Cynthia De Stefano, Toms River, was ready for the parade with granddaughter, Isabella, 1, who was dressed as a lady bug. Daughter, Rose, is a teacher with the Beachwood Dazzlers, she said, while another daughter, Mary Ann Emihl, held onto her 3 year old twins, Michael, SpiderMan, and Mckenzie, Belle from Beauty and the Beast.
"This is so interesting," said De Stefano. "We love it here. We already ate a pizza while we're waiting," they laughed.
Thousands of spectators sat on curbs and folding chairs for the spectacle. Michele Verga, Toms River, scurried along with her 7-year-old daughter, Gianna, to find a good spot to watch.
In the parade, Ocean County Girl Scouts dressed up as cowgirls and green faced aliens. Ice cream cones marched down the street and ghoulish creatures and mummies walked side by side. A red and yellow jack in the box held a darling baby, while a baby pumpkin was pushed along in a stroller.
First aid and volunteer fire trucks from surrounding towns blared music over loud speakers. As the evening parade continued, spectators were wowed by a train engine that billowed huge puffs of smoke.
The fun and fantasy continued for three hours with silly, serious and scary costumed characters. Weingroff said that the event ran smoothly and all parade goers were satisfied. "Everyone had a good time."
Aileen Serpe, Lakewood, agreed, as she enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate and a doughnut afterwards, with 3-year-old son, Jaedan, who was dressed as SpiderMan, and family friend, Mary Ellen of Seaside Park.
"This is so beautiful," said the two women. "Everyone is so dressed up."
|
|
)