{"id":18881,"date":"2025-10-27T20:04:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T20:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/18881\/"},"modified":"2025-10-27T20:04:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T20:04:09","slug":"bronx-halloween-parade-marks-40-years-of-pride-and-community-spirit-bronx-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/18881\/","title":{"rendered":"Bronx Halloween Parade marks 40 years of pride and community spirit \u2013 Bronx Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"bronx\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The Bronx Halloween Parade celebrated its 40th year in the South Bronx and workers from Urban Health Plan joined in on the fun. From left: Pauline Cruz, Jamine Williams and Carlos Vinals. <\/p>\n

Photo by ET Rodriguez<\/p>\n

\t\t Search our comprehensive guide to things to do in the Bronx<\/a> for more local events \u2014 or submit your own<\/a>!<\/p>\n

The weather was perfect for a procession of ghoulish dancers, larger-than-life monsters and haunted circus acts who were a fraction of the performers at this year\u2019s 40th annual Bronx Halloween Parade<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Founded in 1986 by community leaders, Father Louis Gigante who died in 2022 at the age of 90 and Sister Miriam Thomas who died in 2014, also at 90 years old, the parade started from humble beginnings.<\/p>\n

\u201cI actually attended the parade as a child,\u201d said V. Taveras, who has organized of the Bronx Halloween Parade since 2019. \u201cTo be one of the organizers now and celebrating 40 years, it\u2019s a really full circle moment for me. It started off as a very, very small walk from one block to the other and it was like 50 people that were marching.\u201d<\/p>\n

Four decades later, the Bronx event is recognized as the second largest Halloween parade in the city, after the West Village parade, and this year, the parade route extended to nearly half a mile and saw about 5,000 participants and nearly 20,000 spectators.<\/p>\n

Spectators were lined up behind police barricades along Southern Boulevard starting at Westchester Avenue all the way down to Intervale Avenue, where marchers turned right and ended around Bill Rainey Park where a block party awaited.<\/p>\n

The day started at 11 a.m. with a street co-naming on the corner of 163rd and Simpson streets, commemorating four decades of creepiness and community. Members of Bronx Community Board 2 did the honors of the reveal, along with City Councilmember Rafael Salamanca who will reach his term limit this December after serving the South Bronx area since 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a New York City council member, we do a lot of cool stuff. We get to allocate funding where it\u2019s needed, and we also get to rename streets,\u201d Salamanca said. \u201cAnd it is my honor to rename the corner of 163rd Street and Simpson Street, where it all started, to Bronx Halloween Parade Way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"On Saturday, Oct. 25, City Councilmember Rafael Salamanca and locals made an appearance to commemorate the co-naming of 163rd and Simpson Streets as Bronx Halloween Parade Way. Photo by ET Rodriguez
\n\"\"Several dance groups performed in the parade, including the Total PKG from New Rochelle who performed Michael Jackson\u2019s iconic \u201cThriller.\u201d Photo by ET Rodriguez<\/p>\n

Sponsored by Planet Fitness, Urban Health Plan, Bronxworks and several other organizations, the parade itself kicked off at 1:30 p.m. with creative costumes rooted in Halloween tradition and cultural pride.<\/p>\n

Puerto Rican flags of all sizes and colors were prominent throughout the festivities, most of them courtesy of Boricuaverse \u2013 a cosplay collective founded in 2023 by Lili-Beth Torres.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s representing something nerdy and the culture together,\u201d Torres said, dressed as a Mandalorian from Star Wars, painted with the Puerto Rican flag while she carried a jibaro baby Yoda with the iconic straw hat worn on the island. \u201cI found other people at festivals and parades that also represent Puerto Rican characters.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was also a group of lechones, a Dominican tradition of elaborately costumed individuals wielding loud-cracking whips. While Puerto Ricans were the dominant Hispanic demographic in the Bronx for decades, they have been superseded by Dominicans in recent years<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"A procession of high-end vehicles rolled trough the parade with drivers in costume. Photo by ET Rodriguez
\n\"\"Dennis Carion, who was part of the Boricuaverse procession, was a hit at this year\u2019s Bronx Halloween Parade. Photo by ET Rodriguez<\/p>\n

Legendary DJ Funkmaster Flex was one of two grand marshals and spun old-school hip hop with his signature style of scratching and voiceover. Local TV personality Rhina Valentin served as the other grand marshal, complete with a Cruella de Vil outfit and a posse dressed up in Dalmatian costumes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it comes to inclusivity, it doesn\u2019t even matter what color or culture or what race you are. At this particular time, everybody\u2019s in costume, so nobody\u2019s even paying attention to that,\u201d Valentin said.<\/p>\n

Valentin spoke in reference to the currently political climate and the aggressive infiltration of ICE agents across the country, specifically in New York which has long been a sanctuary city. \u201cJoy is an act of resistance,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Plenty of joy was spread as parade marchers tossed candy to children standing on the sidelines, some crawling on the floor reaching for rogue lollipops and packs of peanut M&Ms. Their smiles were contagious and the day went off without a hitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the 40 years that we\u2019ve had this parade, there\u2019s never been an incident,\u201d Taveras said.
\n\"\"Thousands of individuals crowded Southern Boulevard on Saturday as they watched the 40th Bronx Halloween Parade pass them by. Photo by ET Rodriguez
\n\"\"ArchCare Senior Life PACE at Intervale Avenue had some of their residents seated outside so they could enjoy the festivities of the day. Photo by ET Rodriguez\n<\/p>\n

Amaurys Grullon was the host with the most at the block party and introduced Bronx Borough President, Vanessa Gibson who did her usual cameo and presented the community board with a proclamation honoring their 40 years of Halloween tradition. The Hunts Point Ballet warmed up the audience with a spooky routine before the headliners, Nina Sky, took the stage. The musical duo made of identical twin sisters performed several songs, including their 2004 hit, \u201cMove Ya Body.\u201d<\/p>\n

Overall, the day was a uniting event bringing together locals and out-of-towners, like two dance groups from Baltimore, Maryland and former Bronxites who now live in New Jersey or Westchester.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been in this community since 1966,\u201d Julie Young said, who was dressed as a disco queen. \u201cSeeing it go from a few families marching on the street with traffic being open and seeing it to what it is today, it\u2019s just amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"The musical duo Nina Sky, made up of identical twin sisters, were the headliners at this year\u2019s parade. Photo by ET Rodriguez<\/p>\n

Reach ET Rodriguez at\u00a0etrodriguez317@gmail.com<\/a>. For more coverage, subscribe to our\u00a0newsletter<\/a>\u00a0and follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>!\u00a0<\/p>\n

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