Happy haunting as Halloween takes over the neighborhood

On Saturday, October 31, the neighborhood was transformed into trick-or-treat central, as throngs of neighborhood youngsters and the young at heart came out in disguise in honor of Halloween. Festive costumes flooded the streets as children walked from door to door, tricking store owners and residents for treats.

As he does each year, State Senator Marty Golden hosted the Annual Halloween Walk and Fairytale Forest at Owl’s Head Park, 67th Street and Colonial Road. This was an all day gathering consisting of tons of fun, Halloween-inspired activities including a costume contest, face painting, a pumpkin patch, costumed characters, sand art, a train ride, as well as the legendary Haunted Walk.

In addition, the NIA Community Service Network hosted its Spook-takular Street Festival on 11th Avenue between 66th and 67th Streets. The festival included fun things like games, music, activity stations, performances and a photo booth for the kids to enjoy.

New this year, the Dyker Heights Civic Association hosted an All Hallow’s Eve Great Pumpkin Party at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church,1072 80th Street. The festivities consisted of pumpkin painting, games, prizes and tasty treats. Kids 10 and under were welcome, and costumes were a must!

Along 13th Avenue, there were many trick-or-treaters, with stores along the strip joining in the festivities, making sure that neighborhood kids could get their treats. At Sarta Realty, 73rd Street and 13th Avenue, for example, staffers gave out candy, pretzels and festive Halloween balloons.

A few blocks away, Ben Bay Realty Company, 83rd Street and 13th Avenue, also pulled out the stops for neighborhood residents, with visits from SpongeBob and Minions, along with a cotton candy station and selfie station.

Ben Bay actually hosted two separate Halloween events, one in each of its offices. Although both offices gave out balloons and lots of candy, each office hosted different characters and fun activities. The Bay Ridge office, 84th Street and Third Avenue, had visits from members of the Sesame Street gang; Big Bird, Elmo, and Cookie Monster, along with a popcorn station and a portrait station.

BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by SB News