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Cold Spring's Annual Halloween Parade Goblins Chase Away Rain
by Kevin Foley
Princesses waving their magic wands in league with witches stirring their potent brews used their combined powers to drive off a steady afternoon rain and allow the citizens and night crawlers of Cold Spring to once again celebrate the ancient rite of Halloween last Sunday, October 28, 2007.
By early evening quite a mélange of characters had gathered on the lawn of St. Mary's Episcopal Church prior to the step-off of the 14th annual Cold Spring Halloween Parade.
Mingling among the spirited crowd you found ballerinas conversing with Frankenstein, superheroes preening their capes and ghosts of every shape and size emerging from the scattering mist. Oz's Dorothy seemed in search of the Scarecrow, while Darth Vader hunted Skywalker.
Perhaps the closeness of the dinner hour and the barbecued hamburgers offered for sale made the pair of human salt and pepper shakers especially fetching. A cuddly baby skunk played while nearby a baby Charlie Brown called out for his little red-haired girl.
It wasn't clear if Edward Scissorhands was there for the event or just to trim the church bushes and grass.
The cutest by far award went to four youngsters costumed as firefighters and bunched into a red wagon with a banner announcing the Cold Spring Junior Fire Company. They set off a brief frenzy of photo taking that transformed ordinary looking adults into sharp -elbowed paparazzi.
At 5:30pm parade coordinator Marilyn Heberling marshaled the still-welling ranks of the macabre and the outlandish behind her banner and began the ramble down Main Street. The rain had thinned the usual weekend shopping crowd but nevertheless, there was no shortage of enthusiasm as people came out of the stores and restaurants to greet the passing horde of goblins, wizards and pumpkins.
The slow march gave people time for at least two Elvis sightings; the opportunity to take in the seductive pose of a Heidi with a moustache as well as the chance to wave to a trio of Minnie Mice.
"It never rains on our parade," said an enthusiastic Heberling, proprietor of Art To Wear on Main Street, as she gave out treat bags of candy and small toys to parade participants down at the gazebo by the River. Nearby, Tom Rolston, owner of the Depot Restaurant, dispensed apple cider and hot chocolate to a thirsty Dracula and his bloodless friends.
While acknowledging that the threat of rain may have slackened attendance slightly, Heberling said she expected to hand out 850 bags. She gleefully compared that number to the 100 bags handed out at the first parade.
Among the public officials in attendance, Cold Spring Village Trustee John Teagle masqueraded as the leader of an early 1960's rock band and with the help of Al Hemberger, Joe Johnson, Peter Rundquist, and Ken Veltzsome, provided entertainment as the crowd promenaded along the riverbank. An authentic looking British Bobby enhanced security, while his cousin Sponge Bob stood by in case repairs of any kind were needed.
Volunteers from the Scenic Hudson organization and Building Bridges Building Boats rowed by towing lighted pumpkins behind their boat adding spice to the festivities as the sinking sun left an autumnal glow on the water's surface.
The celebration reached a crescendo when dozens of children climbed up into the gazebo to sing the chorus to the band's ghoulish rendition of The Monster Mash, as a few young pirates scanned the river for a glimpse of their ship's mast.
Official crowd estimates from the sponsors of the event, The Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce and Art To Wear placed the numbers of human participants at slightly less than last year, around 2000 costumed children, adults. They did note that the parade seemes to be gathering steam in the canine population though, as the number of man's best friends marching significantly increased! Every year Marilyn Heberling gratefully organizes the marvelous volunteers who fill and hand out the treat bags. This year's volunteers were Danielle Bassignani, Donna Bassignani, Michelle Bassignani, Briana Harrold, David Heberling, Christina Knisely, and Cecile Lindstedt. The local police and fire officials continue to support the parade with traffic control and festive sirens.
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