The usual snarl of rush hour traffic that jams Washington Street gave way to a mile-long parade of pint-sized Snow Whites, witches, Supermen and other fantastic creatures Tuesday night, as the city virtually shut down to celebrate Halloween.
For more than an hour, onlookers – sometimes packed two and three rows deep – stared open-mouthed at the oft-elaborate costumes that local children and their parents donned for the annual Ragamuffin parade. While many of the children walked the parade route (from Washington and 12th streets to Pier A), some traveled in style aboard homemade floats designed specifically for the occasion.
A homemade pirate-style boat with wheels carried Griffin Smyth, a 4-year-old Peter Pan, Andrea Erichson, a 4-year-old Tinker Bell, and Jasmine Erichson, a 1-year-old Captain Hook. The boat was designed by Griffin’s Dad, Miller. “Wave your sword at them,” Smyth would say to his son whenever an old-time car that was following them would get too close.
“We’ve been planning for this for months,” said Smyth later, while taking a breather at the parade’s edge. “Last year my wife carried him all the way, so we had to come up with an alternative idea.”
The marchers slowly made their way to Pier A Park, where city officials had amassed a giant treasure trove of prizes that were handed out for the best costumes in nine different age groups. “This is a parade befitting the best city in New Jersey,” said Mayor Anthony Russo, as he stood greeting parade attendees among the hay bales and pumpkins city officials had piled up at the pier.
The event, which also featured several marching bands, stilt walkers and a host of old-time cars, seems to have grown so much that it is now attracting families from other parts of the county as well.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Patricia O’Hanlon, a 57-year-old Jersey City resident dressed as a cat, who had come to watch the festivities with her family. “I think it’s pretty neat. I like the idea of a safe night out.”
Even the clerks of the small Washington Street boutiques came out of their shops to watch.
“This is a lot of fun,” said Jennifer Alvarez, who manages Soco, a store that sells leather bags.
Though the children seemed to love running from business to business collecting candy in over-sized trick-or-treat bags, it seemed like the parents might be having just as much fun.
“This is great,” said Rod Kuchakian as he carried Isabelle, his 18-month-old daughter who was dressed like a ladybug, on his shoulders. “One day a year, the 3-year-olds take over the streets. And they do it at rush hour!”