Rye’s traditional Halloween window painting continued on Sunday, Oct. 20, with a new twist.
This year, the time-honored event that took over the city’s downtown was also a vibrant festival, featuring a costume parade and contest. Activities included a bake sale, magic and balloons, face painting, pumpkin painting, and a collaborative monster mural.
Brilliant fall weather contributed to attracting a very large turnout.
The debut parade, displaying an array of creative costumes, flowed down Purchase Street to an appropriate soundtrack: an upbeat “Ghostbusters” remix, spun by DJ Joe Valentine. Afterward, Dabney Lee, owner of the eponymous shop, judged the costume competition. Winning ensembles, which were rewarded with Halloween gift baskets, included a valiant knight outfit, a bag of autumnal leaves, and the cast of Blue’s Clues.
“It’s a wonderful new tradition,” Lee said. “I’m honored to judge, and everyone’s costumes were amazing!”
A running theme of the day was New York baseball, not surprising given the postseason appearance of both the Mets and Yankees. A blue and orange Mets window, painted by Drew and Kevin Campbell, drew significant foot traffic, photos, and conversation. Ian Cinco of Maniac Pumpkin Carvers, a Yonkers-based company of muralists and artists that rose to prominence when the Yankees requested its services, provided eye-catching MLB-inspired pumpkins.
“We carve around the clock in October,” Cinco said. “Especially leading up to Halloween!”
In the afternoon, the Buckley Manor Band took the stage and the whimsical Westchester Circus Arts team opened an interactive, big-top style play area. Kids of all ages were invited to join free-flowing, skills-based games, including hula hooping, plate spinning, and juggling.
For the last 71 years, Halloween window painting has marked the start of the spooky season in Rye. Today, painted windows can be found across town.
“We have about 800 participants paired up to paint around 400 windows this year,” said Superintendent of Rye Recreation Erin Mantz. “People tell us they move to Rye for this event! It really shows the fun atmosphere of the community this city has.”
Painted windows can be spotted from Purdy Avenue all the way to Scissors on the Sound near the Milton School.
The expanded celebration was possible because it was a collaboration of town organizations, Mantz said.
“We always like to thank the Department of Public Works, The Women’s Club of Rye, and Children’s Philanthropy of Rye,” she said. “Because of them, activities are free for all ages, even for those who didn’t paint windows.”
Of course, Rye’s businesses remain at the heart of the event.
“We also give another huge thank you to the stores that allow us to use their windows,” Mantz said. “They’re always super supportive of the community and in giving us their space and time. It’s beyond appreciated. We wouldn’t have this kind of event if not for them.”