Halloween parade
The Lions’ Club Halloween Parade will take place on Monday, Oct. 31 beginning at 6 p.m. For more than 40 years, the New Paltz Lions have been staging the Halloween Parade, which begins at the middle school and winds its way down Main Street to the Station One Firehouse where Lions members hand out fresh apples donated by local farmers and treats to kids in their costumes.
The parade was initiated by a lone New Paltz Lion, the late Francis (Bud) Connolly, a handicapped schoolteacher. Lion Connolly was deeply concerned about the safety of the young trick-or-treaters and pranksters who were roaming the darkened streets of the community. His solution was to “keep them busy and safe” by conducting a parade. He announced that he would be stationed at the middle school at 6 p.m. on Halloween evening and lead all congregated costumed youngsters down Main Street to the Firehouse, where he would distribute chocolate bars and apples.
According to current Lions’ Club members, Connolly’s efforts “proved to be highly successful, and the New Paltz Lions immediately adopted the project and have conducted it annually since that time.” They added that in recent years, with the success of the parade growing by leaps and bounds, the aging membership of the Lions’ Club reached out to the community for assistance and were aided by the Southern Ulster Optimist Club, who became their “partners” in Halloween fun for all.
The New Paltz Police Department, the village volunteer fire department and the New Paltz Rescue Squad all contribute to the safety and security of the Mardi Gras-like event that draws thousands of community members to Main Street, singing and dancing in scary, creative, clever costumes.
Adding to the celebratory feel of the traditional Halloween Parade has been the New Paltz Middle School band, the New Paltz High School band and a cadre of drums, which provide cadence and eerie sounds at the head of the march. Recently, an eclectic collection of youngsters and adults has been setting the tempo down Main Street. A fog-spewing antique hearse with a “properly prepared” passenger has also become a fixture to add to the fun.
According to the New Paltz Lions’ Club, during the formation of last year’s march, the crowd gathered at the kickoff site at the middle school proved “overwhelming.” As a result, the Lions again reached out to the local Rotarians and SUNY-New Paltz fraternities to provide the person-power to maintain a safe and orderly commencement to the kickoff site of the parade.
“The New Paltz Lions and the Southern Ulster Optimists once again invite all New Paltz children, aged 1 to 91, to join the merrymaking on Halloween evening,” they announced, but with one caveat: “Last year, for the first time in the parade’s history, the candy supply was diminished before all the children were served.” To that end, the Lions and the Optimists ask that adults participating in this year’s parade keep their hands off the bonbons!
“The Haunted Hospital” at the New Paltz Youth Center
For pre-teens and teens and those brave enough to enter, the New Paltz Youth Center, located on Main Street just east of the middle school, will be hosting its 18th annual haunted house on Oct. 29 and 31 from 6 to 10 p.m., with this year’s theme being “The Haunted Hospital.” Come if you dare! It is not recommended for children aged 8 years or under, and the cost of entrance into the hospital ward is $2 for kids and $3 for adults.
Nigh of 100 Pumpkins
Everyone is also invited to participate in and/or view the “Night of 100 Pumpkins” at the Bakery on North Front Street. For more than a decade, the Bakery has sponsored a pumpkin contest with every imaginable category for various age groups that has inspired some of the most provocative gourd/squash creations that Paltzonians of all ages have dreamt up. On Halloween night, the Bakery will serve hot cider and the winners will be revealed after the parade.
Curfew
The Village of New Paltz has enacted a juvenile curfew for Halloween from 11 p.m. on Oct. 31 until 6 a.m. on Nov. 1. During this time it will be against the law for those under the age of 17 to be on the streets or other public places within the Village of New Paltz unless accompanied by his/her parent or guardian. ++
