Residents of Marine Park celebrated Halloween a little early at an Autumn Festival held near the Carmine Carro Community Center on Sunday, October 30th, where games, candy and fun activities were available for children of all ages.
“This is our second annual Autumn Festival and this year we actually did it in two locations, yesterday at Canarsie Park and today at Marine Park,” said Assemblywoman Jaime Williams, who sponsored the event. “It’s a safe space for families to come and enjoy with their kids and take part in the festivities, the fun games, the costumes, getting the candy and everything else.”
The event was in collaboration with Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, State Senator Simcha Felder, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse, the Mill Basin and Bergen Beach Civic Associations, the Marine Park Community Association and the Marine Park Alliance (MPA), among others.
Children played various games, participated in arts and crafts and showed off their Halloween costumes. Others got to sit inside a NYC Sanitation truck and take pictures.
“We wanted to get more involved in the community, get connected with new neighbors,” said Keenya Browne, originally from Canarsie but recently moved into the neighborhood. “My son definitely had a good time. I think he even made some new friends, so this is a great chance to connect with the neighborhood and get familiar with it.”
Topping off the festival, children and parents participated in a dance sequence, dancing to the famous classic, “Thriller, as well as Silentó’s “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” and “Cotton Eye Joe,” and even a mini parade with an angel leading the way around the community center.
“It was a great event,” said MPA President Maria Carro-D’Alessandro. “It’s like more of a hometown kind of atmosphere with just the pumpkins being spread out and simple games for kids to play – away from the computers. It’s a beautiful day out; everybody came out in full costume.”
