HUNTINGTON, NY – Families, costumes, candy, and crafts filled Heckscher Park’s Tennis Courts on Saturday from 5 to 8pm as the Town of Huntington hosted its first-ever “Halloween at Heckscher” – a free community celebration that brought out hundreds of residents for a night of laughter, creativity, and community connection.
Local families turned out in full costume to enjoy a crisp fall evening filled with activities, a massive inflatable obstacle course from Mac Bounce, free food from Mac’s Snack Shack, Touch A Halesite Fire Truck and the “Hocus Pocus” outdoor movie.
A Town-Wide Effort
According to organizers, this was the first of what they hope will become an annual tradition. “Now that we know the community loves coming out for Halloween, next year we’ll be even more prepared,” said the Town’s Director of Communications Christine Geed. “Every table you see here today is hosted by a department of the Town of Huntington. This is truly the Huntington team coming out for the community.”
Supervisor Ed Smyth, Chief of Staff Michelle McCarthy, Councilman Dr. Dave Bennardo, Town Clerk Andrew Raia, Director of Public Safety Chris Lau, Superintendent of Highways Andre Sorrentino and Deputy Superintendent Walter Edwards joined in supporting the event, applauding the staff and volunteers who made it happen. Departments across town – from Environmental Waste Management, Engineering Services and Public Safety to the Youth Bureau – each hosted their own tables, games, activities and giveaways.
C. Todd Jamison Director of Parks and Recreation shared the Town’s original idea was to host the event on the adjacent field but pivoted to the Tennis courts instead to give the grass more time to recover from the recent Carnival. “This is perfect” said Director Jamison of the Tennis Courts, “It’s fenced in so the kids can safely run around, it’s flat and easy to clean up afterward.”
Robert Conte, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation had the important role as a “statue” blocking an extra obstacle course entrance to keep the children inside safe.
Crafts, Creativity, and Community Spirit
The festival showcased the best of local creativity. One highlight came from the Huntington Arts Council booth, where volunteers helped kids make a custom pocket patch from old jeans using 100% recycled materials leftover from their recent “Second Chance Art Supplies” event. “We kept over 500 pounds of art materials from going to landfills,” said Executive Director Kieran Johnson proudly. “We also helped more than 250 artists access affordable supplies. It’s inspiring to see the community’s creativity on display.”
Kids lined up to create spiderwebs and monsters, sew patches, and make DIY trick-or-treat bags – all while learning about sustainability.
Costumes, Candy, and Characters Everywhere
The crowd was a parade of costumes – from tiny tacos to dazzling LED-lit Princesses and a Daddy Narwhal. One young visitor dressed as Bumblebee, the beloved Transformer, stole the show with an on-the-spot “transformation” that drew cheers from the crowd. “That’s the best costume!” one spectator shouted as kids gathered to watch.
Meanwhile, the Huntington Youth Bureau Director Janine Salgado, Counselors and their staff helped children make spiders and pumpkins, while other town departments handed out goodie bags, candy, and hosted sticker crafts. “We had hundreds of bags – they were gone in three seconds!” laughed Melina Pascual from the Community Development Corporation.
No more candy? No problem! The costumed kids raced to the playground where they spun, jumped, swung and climbed. “The slide looks like the escalator at Comic Con” joked June Margolin from Huntington Matters referencing the different genres of characters.
Lights, Laughs, and Movie Magic
As the sun set, the family movie “Hocus Pocus” lit up the night on the Tennis Courts, capping off the celebration. Between the obstacle course, the snack shack, and the laughter of costumed kids racing from booth to booth, it was clear the event was a hit.
“This is what community looks like,” one attendee said while taking in the festive scene. “It’s neighbors, families, and our Town coming together just to have fun.”
Looking Ahead
Town officials say this first Halloween at Heckscher Park is just the beginning. With the success of this year’s turnout, Huntington residents can look forward to an even bigger Halloween event next year.
As Huntington Matters signed off from the night’s live broadcast, they summed up the spirit of the evening perfectly: “Come on down, neighbors – we’re the best town ever.”
Photography by Diane Schaber, Videography by June Margolin.
