Families and parade enthusiasts will not want to miss this annual tradition. Last year, more than 5,000 participated in this annual event which included over 2,000 children, special dignitaries and elected officials; over 50 pets in Halloween costumes; and 25 decorated strollers. This year's parade is scheduled for Sunday, October 26th.
The parade will begin at 2 pm on Mt. Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte and march northwards to the Mount Vernon Recreational Center playing fields, located at the intersection of Mt. Vernon Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue in Del Ray. Children, pets, and strollers in costumes are invited to march and show off their finest and scariest Halloween garb. To register your stroller, please look for the registration desk at Bellefonte and Mt. Vernon Avenues beginning at 1:30 p.m. For Pet Registration, there is a new location – it will begin at 1:30 at Barkley Square at 2006 Mt. Vernon Avenue.
This year's parade will feature awards for the Best Pet Costume, Best Decorated Business, Best Decorated Home, and Best Decorated Stroller. Nominations for best decorated business can be made by calling 703.684.3535 or emailing Gayle Reuter. Nominations for best decorated home can be made by contacting Jennifer Walker at 703-286-1206 or jen@jenwalker.com. Judges include local city and community officials, past and present.
Awards will be given out at a brief ceremony at Mt. Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues following the parade, along with refreshments (hot dogs donated by 7-Eleven, cider, and cookies) and goodie bags for the children. Entertainment will be provided by one of our favorite bands, Folsom Prisoners and again this year thanks to the Alexandria Jaycees and DC Metro Church there will be games and activities for the children. They will take place at the Mt. Vernon fields immediately following the parade. All activities are free!
| For the fifth year, we will collect and distribute Halloween costumes for children who would otherwise have to go without. We will be collecting donated costumes at the Caboose Cafe, 2419 Mt. Vernon Avenue and A Show of Hands, 2204 Mt. Vernon Avenue, and distributing them on Saturday, October 25, from 2-4 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center. We are especially in need of larger size costumes. Also, we will once again be partnering with Alexandria’s Carpenter’s Shelter with their Annual Community Walk to End Family Homelessness. You can call them at 703-548-7500 to get more information. After the parade, beginning at 6:30 pm, for the 2nd year, families can enjoy a haunted graveyard that is being constructed by Bean Creative and will be located next to their lot at Mt. Vernon and E. Del Ray Avenue. Last year in its debut, it proved to be a new, must do Del Ray tradition. Special thanks to our business neighbor, Bean Creative.
The parade is sponsored by the Del Ray Business Association (DRBA) and the City of Alexandria. We are always looking for additional sponsors and welcome financial contributions, goodie bag contributions, and volunteers. We will need lots of donated candy and goodies in order to fill more than 2,000 goodie bags so look for donation boxes at your favorite Del Ray business. Finally, if you would like to help stuff 2,000 goodie bags, join your neighbors on Saturday, October 25, at 2 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center. We look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday at 2:00 pm either in the parade or along the route cheering us on!!
For more information, contact: Gayle Reuter at 703-684-3535 or gtrdelray@yahoo.com.
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