The Glendale Kiwanis are hosting their annual Halloween Parade Monday, Oct. 31.
The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. at 70th Street and Myrtle Avenue, ending at 65th and Myrtle Ave. There will be a costume contest at the end of the parade. There will also be candy for everyone and prizes for the top 10 winners of the costume contest.
The Glendale Halloween parade began in 1966 and is the oldest Halloween parade in New York City. Glendale Kiwanis member Fred Haler, co-chairman of the parade, told QNS they expect to have over 300 children attend the parade this year.
“It gives children and the community something to do on Halloween,” Haler said. “Rather than hanging out mindlessly in the street or vandalizing.”
The parade was started by Jim Bonnellan and his wife Kitty, along with Artie and Ronnie LaFres from the Ford dealership in Glendale, as a deterrent for vandalism during Halloween. The Glendale Kiwanis took over the parade in 1970 and has been running it since, according to Haler, who said it is a member-driven, community effort.
The Glendale Kiwanis consist of mainly business owners with a desire to give back to the community. They are meant to provide the support for the youth of the community that they need to thrive, according to Kiwanis International.
