Organizers say that this year’s Ragamuffin Parade, a Hoboken Halloween tradition, will be bigger and more exciting than ever. Starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, motorists will cede Washington Street to the city’s children – and some of the city’s more fun loving adults – who will march in costume from 12th Street all the way to Pier A Park, where prizes for the best costumes will be awarded.
From its inception in 1964, the parade has drawn a crowd as residents turn out in droves to look at the creative costumes, listen to the music, and watch the now-ubiquitous parade of antique cars that are a hallmark of any good procession. This year, more than eight marching bands are expected to perform and more than 50 bicycles will be handed out to winners.
“This year I hope the parade will be better than ever,” said Environmental Services Director Tim Calligy, who noted that he used to love marching in them as a kid.
Although many longtime residents of the city have fond memories of marching down Washington Street as youngsters, not everybody who grew up in Hoboken had the opportunity.
In the beginning
When the event began, former organizers say, it was principally organized by the police department.
“Every police officer who was not on duty was involved,” said Vincent Lombardi, a retired police sergeant who was the principal organizer from 1966 to 1969. “We would meet in the back of the Shannon Lounge starting on the night before and get ready. We all wore costumes. We’d have a make-up lady come in. I was a buccaneer or something one year. That was good.”
Under Lombardi’s watchful eye the parade grew. A beauty pageant was incorporated into the event. A dozen bands were recruited to perform, including the Philadelphia Mummers, a string band.
But then the riots of 1969 hit, and many of the officers were on near-24 hour alert, making parade planning difficult.
“The parade was interrupted because of the riots,” explained Lombardi Thursday. “It was big when I had it. But then after the riots it really slowed down and died out in the ’70s.”
In 1993, after Mayor Anthony Russo was elected, City Hall stepped in to start the tradition back up again. Every year since then, organizers say, the parade has grown as more and more children participate and more local businesses donate prizes.
Though Lombardi is pleased to see the parade breathing new life, he says that nothing can compare to the pomp of the parade in the ’60s.
“The most creative costumes I have ever seen,” he said, thinking back. “One father had a kid on a toilet bowl and he was pulling him down the street and they called it ‘kid on the throne.’ That was a good one.”
“And you should have seen the prizes,” he continued. “We used to give out a pair of tickets to a nightclub [to high school aged kids] and they would get a chauffeured limo driven by an off duty police officer to take them.” This year due to the number of people expected to participate city officials are urging those who are interested in marching to show up early. Assembly begins at 4 p.m. Those who have questions should call 420-2094.