For the first time in the Throggs Neck Halloween Parade’s over-25-year history, it was postponed due to snow. So all the ghouls and goblins who had planned to march down East Tremont Avenue on Saturday, October 29, can now make their way to Villa Barone Manor on Saturday, November 5.
The parade-turned-party will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event was organized by Assemblyman Michael Benedetto’s office. So when the forecast turned ominous on Friday morning, Benedetto’s chief-of-staff Ben Randazzo began frantically making calls to let everyone know it had to be rescheduled.
“We notified everyone that we could,” Randazzo said. “Mainly the people that were exhibiting or that were involved in the parade. And if we don’t cancel, then we incur the expenses and we lose a lot of money.”
And while he was not able to reach the entire neighborhood by phone, Randazzo said he was confident nobody showed up for the parade, considering the snow, rain and near-freezing temperatures.
“Sometimes (when the parade is canceled) they do come, but with Saturday’s extreme weather, I can’t see anyone showing. It’s the first time I can remember snow.”
Randazzo and the rest of the parade organizers will not be able to replicate the outdoor experience at Villa Barone Manor, but they plan to spend the days leading up to the celebration making sure they come as close as possible.
“What won’t be there are the big rides,” he said. “We had a giant slide. Now we can’t do that. But we will still have a bounce castle, things like that.”
The annual costume contest, as well as food, music and games, will all be there.
“We’re hoping for a successful party,” Randazzo said. “And we’re going have as much as we would have had outside as possible.”
Bill Weisbrod can be reached via e-mail at bweisbrod@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 742-3394.
