Sea Isle City’s 2013 Halloween Parade was a Big Hit

SEA ISLE CITY – On Oct. 18, Sea Isle City’s Division of Recreation hosted the resort’s annual Halloween Parade along Landis Avenue, where a wide variety of eye-catching participants walked, waved from floats and smiled from the back seats of convertibles while entertaining countless spectators.
Live music was provided during the parade by The Original Hobo Band, The Eagles Pep Band, The Atlantic City Fire Department’s Sandpipers Pipe and Drum Band, and The Pennsport String Band.
The parade also featured local and regional beauty queens, representatives from New Jersey Hope and Healing, elected officials, local businesses and members of the Cape May County Sheriff’s Department, including McGruff the Crime Dog, Eddie the Eagle and representatives from the Sheriff’s Explorers. There were also fire engines, ambulances and other first response vehicles.
Another of the parade’s many highlights was an energetic appearance by the one-and-only Phillie Phanatic, who delighted spectators and parade participants alike.
The parade’s pre-registered entrants were examined by a panel of judges. Afterwards, trophies were distributed to the winners in several categories during an award ceremony, which took place during Sea Isle’s annual Halloween Family Dance Party at the Excursion Park Band Shell immediately following the parade.
The first place winner in the parade’s Walking Category (age 13 and over) was “Mad Hatter” Michael McCorristin, of Belle Plain, NJ. Other winners in that group included J.P. Monaghan, of Ardmore, PA, who won second prize for reminding spectators that there was only “68 More Days Until Christmas,” and “Pizza Chef” Brendon Haddon, of Ocean City, NJ, who won third prize for his dough-flipping skills.
In the Walking Category (under age 13) Jaxson “Thomas the Tank” Marengo, of Sea Isle City, was the first place winner, followed by Marissa Hess, of Villas, NJ, who won second prize for her “American Girl Doll” costume. Isabelle Phillips, of Dennisville, NJ, and Nicholas Hess, of Villas, NJ, tied for third place, dressed as a “Ballerina in a Box” and a “Despicable Me Minion” respectively.
In the Family Category, The Vandever Family of Woodbine, NJ, were dressed as “Captain Mommy and Her Merry Maties,” which won them first prize. The Herzer Family, of Sea Isle City, won second prize for their assortment of costumes, and the Barnabei Family, of Chadds Ford, PA, won third prize.
The first place winners in the Clubs and Organizations Category were members of the Jersey Cape Dance Academy, who delighted spectators with a well-timed “flapper” dance routine. Also dressed as a band of flappers from the 1920’s, the members of Sea Isle’s weekly aerobics class (affectionately known as “The Aerobics Chicks”) won the second place trophy; and a group of “Kitty Cats” from the Girl Scouts of Bishop McHugh Regional School took home third place honors.
The first place winners in the Float Category were members of Rose, Larsen, Pittaluga, Cunningham, Lego and Romano families, who were dressed as characters from The Cartoon Network. The Upper Township Rescue Squad’s “Zombie Boat” won second place honors among floats.
For information about other seasonal events taking place in Sea Isle City, visit www.seaislecitynj.us or phone (609) 263-8687.