Ragamuffin Parade spans three generations for Bay Ridge family

As Bay Ridge’s Ragamuffin parade is set to turn 50 this year, Marianne Fezza is breaking out the costuming materials and getting ready.

The life-long Ridgeite has been attending the Ragamuffin Parade herself since the late 1960s, crafting elaborate and whimsical costumes for her daughters and grandchildren with the help of her husband, Bob.

“It is definitely creating memories for the grandkids; my daughter is 32 and she remembers every year of Ragamuffin,” said Fezza, whose daughter and grandchildren have won many a costume contest over the last several decades. “It is a great Bay Ridge memory, for childhood and adulthood. Seeing the Bay Ridge community come together and hearing the applause from the spectators is a wonderful accomplishment.”

Crayon boxes, shower curtains, the Batmobile, a pepperoni pizza slice, a box of Valentine’s Day chocolates, a butterfly, spaghetti and meatballs, an ice cream truck and an arcade claw machine are just some of the many costumes that have been worn by Fezza’s daughters, Shari, Traci and Jillian, as well as her grandchildren, Sean and Gianna.

According to Fezza, she and her daughter usually come up with the ideas for the costumes, while her husband does the construction using cardboard, felt and foam. Fezza then adds on some of the more detailed aspects of the costume.

“Years and years ago, it was not as creative as it was today. They were more ragamuffin,” said Fezza. “As a family, we’re in competition with ourselves, so we try to outdo ourselves each year. We try for something simple but it never turns out simple.”

Although Fezza doesn’t have one particular year of Ragamuffin that sticks out in her mind, she recalls 2001’s Ragamuffin as being a particularly somber one. In order to represent and support New York and the United States following the September 11 attacks, Fezza and her husband set about crafting an American flag costume.

As for this year’s Ragamuffin Parade, Fezza stated that Gianna, age five, may show up as the Little Old Lady in the Shoe. The costume was worn by Jillian in 1988.

“I am definitely looking forward to this year’s 50th anniversary,” said Fezza. “Hopefully, we come up with some bigger and better.”

This year, the Home Reporter and Brooklyn Spectator will be honoring the beloved Bay Ridge institution with a commemorative special section, and we would love to see your pictures and memories of the prized parade.

Send your photos and anecdotes to editorial@brooklynreporter.com for a chance to see them in the paper or on our website!