Downtown Glen Cove spends Halloween afternoon as a festival this year. The Glen Cove Downtown Business Improvement District is holding its Halloween Parade and Festival on Saturday, October 31 from 1 to 3:30 p.m., centered on Village Square at 100 Village Square, with a children's parade, a judged costume contest, pony rides, bounce houses, games, a live DJ and trick-or-treating at participating downtown businesses. Admission is free.

The parade comes first

The parade is open to all children in costume. It steps off from the Staples parking lot at Highland Road and School Street and winds through downtown to the festival. Families can simply show up and march; no sign-up is needed for the parade itself.

The costume contest runs on registration

The costume contest starts at 2:30 p.m. and is open to children 12 and under, judged in three age groups: 0 to 4, 5 to 8, and 9 to 12. Each group awards a first place, a second place and a most creative prize, and there is a separate prize for best group costume.

Registration is free through the BID's ticket page, with one ticket requested per child, and closes at 2 p.m. on the day. Families can also register at the event table that afternoon, though the BID notes day-of registration may involve a wait, and everyone who registers picks up a contest number at the event table before judging.

Getting there, and the rain plan

Parking is free in the Brewster Street parking garage, and the city's Pulaski Street garage is also free during downtown events. If the weather does not cooperate, the rain date is Saturday, November 7.

The festival caps a busy final week of October downtown. The Deep Roots Farmers Market runs the same morning, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Village Square, with its season continuing Saturdays through November 7, and on Thursday, October 29 from 5 to 8 p.m., downtown shop Trubee Hill holds a holiday sip and shop unveiling its holiday collection.

If you go

Glen Cove Halloween Parade and Festival, Saturday, October 31, 1 to 3:30 p.m., downtown Glen Cove at Village Square. Parade from the Staples lot at Highland Road and School Street. Costume contest at 2:30 p.m., registration closes at 2 p.m. Free admission, free contest registration and free parking in the Brewster Street garage.

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