Assemblywoman Jaime Williams held her third annual Family Fall Festival at the Carmine Carro Community Center in Marine Park to offer local families an afternoon of Halloween fun on Sunday, October 22nd.
“It’s creating a safe space for families to come with their children to enjoy,” Williams told the Canarsie Courier. “It’s about creating a safe space and having families together.”
Costumed children ran through a makeshift pumpkin patch, while parents snapped photos. A long line for face painting snaked around the event, intersecting with the line for made-to-order balloon animals and swords. Various tables from partnering community organizations gave out candy, hot cocoa, iced tea, coloring books, pencils, rulers and pretzels.
“It’s fun for the kids,” Marckandy, a father who came with his 4-year-old, said. “The kids love it, so I love it too. When I was a kid, I didn’t have the opportunity to come here and enjoy it, so I have to provide it to my daughter, and she loves it.”
There were also stands set up with all kinds of games for kids to play, including a miniature fishing game, flip the bottle, cup pong and jumbo Connect 4. Another table had stickers to decorate the pumpkins. Millennium Development led Double Dutch and archery, while the Marine Park Alliance oversaw leaf rubbings.
“I don’t think kids get to play outside too much anymore with everyone,” Mary, a mother who came with her daughter, said. “It kind of feels very old school and it’s nice that they get to meet friends from school and new friends out here that they might see in the playground later, so it’s nice.”
The event was held in coordination with State Senator Simcha Felder and Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein.
I love the Marine Park Family Fall Festival! It’s a great way to get the family together and have some fun.