Day: Sunday, October 28, 2018 (Rain or Shine)
Lineup Time: 12 pm at the Visitors Center
Parade Start Time: 1 pm

Hocus Pocus Kids Halloween Parade, from the Beacon Chamber of Commerce

Every year, the Beacon Chamber of Commerce puts on the Kids Halloween Parade, known as the Hocus Pocus Parade.

Costumed kids start lining up at the Visitors Center at Polhill Park (the little triangle land at South Avenue/Route 9D and Main Street, near Bank Square and Beacon Creamery) for a parade all the way down Main Street stopping at the intersection of Verplanck Avenue and Main Street.

In years past, kids have trick-or-treated while they parade. However, according to the parade’s main organizer, Sheryl Glickman of Notions-n-Potions, the intent has been for participants to parade down the middle of Main Street, and head back up on the sidewalks to casually trick or treat from storefronts, and spend time visiting the shops and galleries. We checked in with Sheryl, and got the nitty-gritty details for you on how it all works:

How This Kids Halloween Parade Works

The lineup is at the Visitors Center, which is near Bank Square and Beacon Creamery. When the parade starts, the kids and parents march down the middle of Main Street showing off their costumes. This year, the parade route has been extended. It will end at the intersection of Main Street and Verplanck Avenue. Sheryl has indicated that the Beacon Jeep Club may lead the parade route. We shall see!

Extended Parade Route

Wait - slow down - Verplanck intersects with Main Street? Yes, it does! Allllll the way at the end of Main Street by the old train tracks and the former Hop location, which is now Melzingah Tap House. You will parade past the Howland Cultural Center, past the Dummy Light, past the Roundhouse, and you will parade past lots of art galleries and shops you may not have discovered yet on this slightly hidden end of Main Street, sometimes referred to as the East End Gem of Main Street. See A Little Beacon Blog’s Shopping Guide and Art Gallery Guide to familiarize yourself.

Collecting The Candy - Trick or Treating Back Up Main Street

The first step is the parade. Make sure you smile and wave! A firetruck will be bringing up the rear of the parade while police escorts lead the parade.

The second step will be trick or treating from storefronts on Main Street as you make your way back up - on the sidewalk! - from the end of the parade route. After everyone completes Phase 1 of the parade (the marching part), the street will be unblocked, and you and the kids will trick or treat on the sidewalk on the return trip back up Main Street. This gives people time to visit the storefronts, see what’s inside, and have an overall more casual experience.