Sea Isle City Halloween Parade Brings Out Ghouls, Goblins

SEA ISLE CITY – With a full moon in the sky, Sea Isle City’s 2010 Halloween Parade treated countless spectators to an evening filled with ghosts and goblins on Fri., Oct. 22. The annual parade, which is hosted by the City’s Department of Recreation, included many participants, ranging from colorful string bands to a host of ghouls tossing candy to the crowds. Adding to the excitement were dogs wearing hilarious get-ups, elected officials in scary masks, ten-foot tall puppets, monsters on stilts and numerous members of local motor clubs, including Corvettes Unlimited and the Gold Wings Road Riders Motorcycle Association.
As musicians from The Pennsport String Band, The Philadelphia Eagles Pep Band and The Sandpipers Pipe and Drum Band filled the air with festive tunes, members of the Cape May County Sheriff’s Department, Boy Scout Troop 76 and Brownie Troop 3416/Junior Troop 5460 paraded along Landis Avenue. Also entertaining the crowds were 2010 Polar Bear King Frank Reed, Miss Cape May County Anna Negron and many others.
Meanwhile, as children lining the parade route were filling their pockets with candy, judges were busy choosing which entries would receive awards. Afterwards, during a City-sponsored Halloween Dance Party on the Promenade, trophies were distributed in six categories.
One of the night’s big winners was a group of 14 ladies from Sea Isle’s weekly aerobics class (AKA “The Aerobics Chics”), who took home the first place trophy in the parade’s Clubs & Organizations Division. Carrying a sign that shouted “Jersey Girls – Sea Isle Style” and dressed in matching pink wigs, twin-sets and poodle-skirts, the Chics were a 1950’s-sensation as they danced along Landis Avenue to the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.
Another popular entry in the Clubs and Organizations Division was The Top Ten Book Club, a group that has participated in Sea Isle’s annual Halloween parade for many years. Dressed as “Nucky’s Girls” from Boardwalk Empire, the book club’s members won a second place trophy after tossing red carnations (Nucky’s favorite) and dancing the jitter-bug for the crowds. Third prize in the this Clubs Division went to members of The Gibson School of Irish Dance, who were charming yet frightful in their traditional Halloween costumes.
In the Family Division, the McHale clan dressed as a variety of characters from Disney’s Toy Story, which helped them win top honors. Also, the LaRosa Family’s “Cutest Little Pumpkin Patch” won second place, and the Barnabei Family’s assortment of costumes, including a sumo wrestler and Gumby, won third place.
In the Floats Division, a group of pirates on “The LaCosta-McTire” boat, featuring swashbucklers of all ages, won first place. Shawn Knieriem and his “Once Apond a Time” creation won second place, and The Sea Isle Ambulance Corps’ “Nightmare in the Pumpkin Patch” won third place.
In the Age 12 and Under Division, Isabelle Phillips won first place as an adorable “Scarecrow in a Cornfield.” Phillips was followed by Michael Romano, second place, who’s parents warned spectators “Not to Feed the Monkey,” and Ella Ferrick, third, who was beautiful as “Snow White.”
In the Age 13 and Older Division, J.P.Monaghan won first place for his “New Sea Isle City Property Owners From Space” creation, and Keith Gilchrist won second place (untitled).
There was also a Canines in Costume Division, which won Dozer the Dog top prize as an order of “McDonalds French Fries.”
“This was the best Halloween parade Sea Isle has ever hosted,” said one spectator as he walked home from Landis Avenue. “I can’t wait until next year!”