The streets of Throggs Neck will soon be flooded with monsters, princesses and superheroes as the 33rd Annual Throggs Neck Halloween Parade is fast approaching.
The parade will be held this year on Saturday, October 29 and the day’s events will begin at 11:30 a.m. and run till 4 p.m.
Children from all over the community will at that time begin preparing for the parade as they get into costume.
As in previous years, Assemblyman Michael Benedetto’s office will take the lead in running the day’s activities.
The parade was started by Assemblyman John Dearie, continued by the next assemblyman. Benedetto has hosted the wildly popular event since 2005.
The actual parade, led by the Salesian High School marching band, will begin at noon after the kids have assembled.
The parade will start at Harding Avenue, travel to East Tremont Avenue, head to the Throggs Neck Expressway service road and then finish at Throgs Neck Boulevard.
Following the parade the costumed throng will participate in festivities stretching an entire block.
Judges will select the best costumed youngsters in four age groups: 0-3, 4-6, 7-10 and 11-13.
The winners will receive a cash prize for first, second, and third place in each age category.
The street fair will also include music and various activities for kids of all ages.
Many youngsters will get a kick from creating their own stuffed bears.
There are limited supplies for some activities, so the first come, first served adage applies.
As in previous years the fair will included raffle prizes for gift certificates provided by local businesses.
Face painting, spin art, bouncy rides, mechanical rides, games and a gigantic slide are just part of the entertainment that day.
The Throgs Neck Little League will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs and other goodies from its field club house.
Benedetto’s office receives help from community business owners to help fund the parade.
In addition, the other local elected officials contribute as well, including Congressman Joesph Crowley, Senator Jeff Klein and Councilman James Vacca, who provide funds to make the day unforgettable.
Many of the area’s civic associations make generous donations as well.
In the past the Throggs Neck Home Owners Association, Silver Beach Gardens and Edgewater Park Owners Association have contributed.
Parade goers will remember the late Ben Randazzo at this year’s event.
Randazzo, who passed away last November, shortly after the parade, was Benedetto’s former chief of staff and in charge of organizing the event.
Benedetto said Randazzo’s help with these type of events showed what type of person he was.
“Ben Randazzo was one of the those people – and we have many of them throughout the area – who went out of his way to serve his community and went out of his way very unnoticed over the years,” the assemblyman said.
Preston High School students volunteer that day manning the rides and assissting at the spin art and face painting tables.
