On October 27, the Cranford Jaycees in partnership with the Cranford Recreation & Parks Department hosted the 13th Annual Brian Jenkins Memorial Halloween Parade. There were 245 applicants across 10 categories which included Ages 0-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-16, Parent-Child, Float, Group and Pet (which was a new category added for the first time this year). The crowd for the parade and pumpkin drop was estimated at more than 750 people.
The parade was led by a squad car from the Cranford Police Department. The Cranford Fire Department’s ladder truck was followed by an ambulance from the Cranford Volunteer First Aid Squad. The Cranford High School Marching Band continued the parade playing Halloween-themed tunes with most of the band members in costume. The parade’s main event at the end was, of course, the children – the many ghouls and goblins with almost 140 between the ages of 0-5.
The parade ran down Walnut Avenue starting in front of the Cranford Recreation Department and then ended at the corner of North Union Avenue and Springfield Avenue. The event was capped off with the Pumpkin Chunkin’, a Cranford tradition where the Cranford Fire Department uses its ladder truck to drop a series of larger and larger pumpkins from the bucket at the top as its raised after every drop. The final pumpkin required two men to lift. The pumpkins were all provided by Dreyer’s Farm, which has sponsored the event since its inception.
The awards were presented on a stage constructed by the Cranford Public Works Department.
A video crew from Cranford TV 35 covered the entire event including the award presentation ceremony at the end. The event was also covered by Dr. Frank Krause who captured 130 still photos.
The parade was co-chaired by Aaron Dolan and David Lluberes with help from many Jaycees. This event was also made possible with a lot of support from Steve Robertazzi, the director of the Cranford Recreation & Parks Department.
This was the first time in three years that the full event has been held which includes not only the costume judging and award ceremony but also the parade and pumpkin drop. In 2011, the October blizzard forced parade organizers to cancel the pumpkin drop. That year only the costume judging, award ceremony and an abbreviated parade with just the children were held.
Last year, in 2012, preparations for Hurricane Sandy almost forced organizers to cancel the entire event. Luckily, they were able to hold the costume judging and award ceremony in the Cranford Recreation Center’s gymnasium.
Parade organizers are planning on expanding the event next year in 2014 by adding a new award category for best decorated vehicle. The entrants will be included in the parade directly after the First Aid Squad’s ambulance.
These are the 42 winners and their costumes in each category:
Ages 0-3:
1st Place – Macy Valdivia: Sun-Maid Raisin
1st Place – Diana Warner: Clown
1st Place – Bora Bektesha: Little Bo Peep
2nd Place – Grace Curtain: Lolly Pop Princess
2nd Place – Griffan Geis: Pirate
2nd Place – Abigale Bacolo: Tree
3rd Place – Declan Sullivan: Elephant
3rd Place – Sydney Cohen: Dorothy and Toto
3rd Place – Mila Kuzio: Snow White
Ages 4-5:
1st Place – Nicolas Hartman: Dusty
1st Place – Paul Vlkovic: Minion from “Despicable Me”
1st Place – Alex Korunoeski: Super Speedy
2nd Place – Aidan Acosta: Luke Skywalker
2nd Place – Marco Valdivia: Mr. Mint
2nd Place – Kristen Shave: Angel
3rd Place – Alana Delvalle: Doc McStuffins
3rd Place – Sienna Destefano: Candy Cane Fairy
3rd Place – Gregoire Scherrer: Waldo
Ages 6-7:
1st Place – Nichole Gordan: Zombie Grave
2nd Place – Aiden Karant: Robot
3rd Place – Mady Delong: Lego
Ages 8-9:
1st Place – Abby Gordon: Haunted Art Gallery (Moaning Lisa)
2nd Place – Cael Lynch: Rubik’s Cube
3rd Place – Gabby Gabel: Minion from “Despicable Me”
Ages 10-11:
1st Place – Calvin Campos: Transformer
2nd Place – Jake Winn: Lobster Dinner
3rd Place – Ally Vlkovic: Sky Dancer
Ages 12-16:
1st Place – Liam Lynch: Headless Man
2nd Place – Charlotte Ceolkyol: Table
3rd Place – Sean Vlkovic: Handstand Man
Parent-Child:
1st Place – Kane Family: Spider Baby Climbing Wall
2nd Place – Gable Family: Despicable Me and Minion
3rd Place – Acosta Family: Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker
Group:
1st Place – Winn Family: Lobster and Calamari Dinner
2nd Place – Pierce Family: Roller Coaster
3rd Place – Jake and Izzy Cubby: Neverland Pirates
Float:
1st Place – Miller Family: Alice In Wonderland
2nd Place – Valdivia Family: Candy Land
3rd Place – Crawford Family: King Triton, Ariel and Flounder
Pet:
1st Place – Bravo and Sandy Winn: Lobster and Calamari Dinner
2nd Place – Sparky Figueiredo: Hot Dog
3rd Place – Riley Kachoogian: Pig in a Blanket
