Screams and maniacal laughter could be heard from blocks away as hundreds of residents crowded the sidewalks around the high school after dark on Tuesday, Oct. 28. Inside could be found wandering zombies, insane clowns, mad doctors, blood-drenched corpses, and much more.
“We come here every year,” said Donna Cieckiewicz at another of North Bergen’s many Halloween events. With her was 3-year-old Leland. “My oldest son’s 10 so he thinks he’s too cool for this. He went to his friend’s house so I brought the little one. He’s enjoying himself.”
October is a good time to be a kid in North Bergen. As the month draws to a close the activities kick into high gear, with parades, parties, indoor and outdoor events, costumes and candy.
The schools put on their own entertainment, with the kids dressing up, holding parades, or generally having fun. The high school takes it to extremes, staging the annual Haunted Hallways event.
This year the theme was American Horror Story, with different rooms throughout the school designed to reflect specific seasons of the hit show. Students decorated the hallways and created their own costumes, charging $5 per person to enter and be terrified.
The event has been held for over 10 years as a fund-raiser for Project Graduation, providing entertainment for North Bergen High School students on the night of graduation, busing them to fun events to keep them occupied – and safe – on their momentous night.
Kids in North Bergen got to visit a haunted school and library, collect assorted treats, and enjoy a petting zoo and pony rides.
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Haunted library
A second haunting could be found at the Kennedy branch of the North Bergen Public Library the following night. The annex was packed with costumed toddlers and parents on Wednesday, Oct. 29, lining up nervously before entering a darkened back room arranged as a maze with frightening features.
This was the second year the event was held at the Kennedy branch at 2123 Kennedy Blvd., which was opened in 2013. Previously it was held at the Library’s main branch at 8411 Bergenline Ave., with different varieties of spooky events arranged for the kids.
Last year, the Kennedy branch hosted magic. This year: frights. Some of the younger kids backed out at the last minute rather than enter the room of scares. For them, a painted clown by the door crafted animals from balloons instead. And everyone received a goodie bag full of treats as they left.
Mayor Nicholas Sacco and Commissioner Hugo Cabrera greeted delighted kids and parents at the library event before heading uptown to the next attraction: the Halloween Parade and Party at the Recreation Center at 6300 Meadowview Ave.
Treats, treats, and more treats
A light rain didn’t deter the North Bergen High School Marching Band and accompanying paraders on Oct. 26. In fact, the misty spray cast a neon glow over the whole event, with crowds of costumed bystanders watching from the sidelines as the marchers made a circuit of the neighborhood and arrived for festivities at the Rec Center.
Held annually for over a decade, the Halloween party drew long lines of residents eager to enjoy the pumpkin picking and eerie decorations arranged within the gym. Employees from the Parks and Recreations departments outdid themselves building elaborate displays, with parents snapping countless cell phone photos of kids in front of witches, ghosts, demons, and more.
Previously held outdoors on the softball field, the event was moved inside a few years ago to avoid inclement weather.
Once the kids were done with the indoor festivities they collected a bag of treats from the mayor and assorted council members on their way out the door.
“We got the bag,” said Cieckiewicz, with son Leland by her side. “There’s a lot of good stuff in there. They give a bag of chips, a candy apple, M&Ms, Kit-Kat, coloring book. They got a laser pen, a tattoo. Pretty good stuff.”
A total of 750 gift bags were distributed this year.
Not far away stood Lyanna Rivera, 5, attending with her mom Melaney and 9-year-old sister Halley. Asked what was her favorite part of the event, Lyanna said, “I like the candy. And the animals.”
“Animals?!” said Hunter Barbour, 7, excitedly. “I want to see all of them!”
Across the field from the Rec Center were the petting zoo and pony rides, attracting hordes of kiddies. Assorted Ironmans and princesses rode in circles, with grins the size of Groot spread across their faces.
“They love it,” said Barbour’s mom Ida, happily enjoying the free holiday with family and friends.
Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.