Halloween Comes Early With Ragamuffin Parade [Photos]

Downtown Chappaqua was packed with kids dressed for Halloween early for the annual Ragamuffin parade, a longstanding tradition in New Castle.

Kids and parents, marching around the train station and South Greeley Avenue, with complete with costumes, whether super heroes, zombies or escaped prisoners.

The Ragamuffin parade was the culmination of the town's annual Halloween festivities, which earlier on Sunday included downtown trick or treating and a carnival.

"I think it turned out wonderful," said Wayne Bass, assistant superintendent for New Castle's Recreation & Parks Department. The third year that the festivities have been held in the train station parking lot - they were previously held in the town hall lot - Bass noted that the event has more activities than ever.

Some adults marching have been coming to the parade for a long time.

"I've been doing this since I was a little kid," said Sharon Serota, a Chappaqua resident who is now a mom. She was at the event with her daughter, Sarah.

"Who ever is in charge of the weather did a great job," commented parent Lauren Baker about the sunshine. She brought her daughter Amanda.

"We had a lot of fun today," said Will Korth, the owner of Korth & Shanahan, which was a sponsor. Korth, who went to the event when he grew up in town, brought his son, Henry.

Other sponsors included the franchise owner of Dunkin' Donuts locations in Chappaqua and Mount Kisco, the Chappaqua-Millwood Business Association and the New Castle Police Benevolent Association.