Long Island City’s largest Halloween parade will return Sunday for the first time since 2019 (Photos: Instagram)
Oct. 26, 2022 By Michael Dorgan
Long Island City’s largest Halloween parade will return Sunday for the first time since 2019.
The parade, called “Halloween in LIC,” typically sees hundreds of kids dressed in costumes march along Vernon Boulevard from 50th Avenue to 46th Avenue. The event was canceled last year due to bad weather and in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions.
This year participants will gather at noon outside the 108th Precinct House, located at 5-47 50th Ave.
Marchers will then leave the Precinct House at 12:15 p.m. and walk along Vernon Boulevard to 46th Avenue. The marchers will be led by firefighters from FDNY Engine 258/Ladder 115.
The six blocks on the boulevard will then fill with costume-clad marchers with businesses along the corridor offering candy, treats, and other goodies to parade-goers. There will also be a marching band and stilt walkers.
Many businesses along the route will be offering food and drinks specials during the day including Woodbines, located at 47-10 Vernon Blvd., while the real estate firm Modern Spaces will have giveaways and a photo booth at its premises at 47-42 Vernon Blvd.
Following the parade, there will be an afterparty from 1:30 p.m. at Jungly, a bar/restaurant located at 12-23 Jackson Ave. The establishment will have a haunted house and food/drink specials for parade-goers.
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Gianna Cerbone-Teoli, a founder and co-organizer of Halloween in LIC, said she is looking forward to seeing kids in their creative costumes taking to the streets once again.
“It’s really all about the kids and creating a safe environment for them,” Cerbone-Teoli said. “We just want the kids to take a walk with their families, visit the businesses and enjoy themselves.”
In previous years, a kids festival called “Fall Fest” would take place at the Plaxall Gallery on 46th Avenue following the parade.
The Fall Fest, Cerbone-Teoli said, has been scrapped this year with organizers focusing entirely on the parade.
Cerbone-Teoli said there are various Halloween-themed events taking place in Long Island City over the next few days and organizers decided to offer a simplified version of the parade this year in order to make it easier on families.
Other events include a block party being hosted by the Court Square Civic Association. The organization’s event is scheduled for this Saturday on 45th Road from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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