The 6th annual Halloween Party and Parade at the Connolly Branch Library and Hyde Square community was a spectacular success! Over 250 children and adults enjoyed a costume party with food, face-painting and pumpkin-decorating at the library before parading through Hyde Square. Led by drummers of the Heartbeat Collective, our little ghouls and goblins trick-or-treated at 37 local businesses and organizations: Volunteers of America, Guardian Healthcare, El Oriental de Cuba, Jamaica Plain Laundry Centre, Tails, Brendan Behan Pub, The Goods Restaurant, Fat Ram’s Pumpkin Tattoo, La Casa de Los Regalos, Centre Tailor, D’Friends Barber Shop, Vasallo’s Fashion for Men & Women, Del Valle’s Children Shop, Alex’s Chimis, Mr. V Auto, Pimentel Market, Batista & Associates, Rent-a-Center, Sonia’s of Boston, RE/MAX Destiny, C.P.L. Zaya’s Veterans Outreach Center, Peak Performance Chiropractic, Centre Street Sanctuary Restaurant, El Patio Market, Revolution Bicycle Repair Shop, Hyde Square Task Force, Centre Street Dental Care, Atlantic Travel Agency, Julio’s Barber Shop, The Video Underground, Blue Nile Restaurant, Centre Liquor Store, Beauty Master Salon, Ultra Beauty Salon, Caffè Aromi, John Connolly’s JP office and Whole Foods Market.
Our wonderful local merchants and organizations made the parade extra-special by dressing up and providing entertainment. A special thanks to Sonia’s of Boston for the first live Halloween window display, which featured dancing models and music from the Hyde Square Task Force Music Clubhouse.
Once again, this event would not have been possible without our outstanding volunteers: Maria Nuñez and the WIC program, Martha Matlaw, David J. Weinstein, Amy Snell, Susan Fialkin, Cristina Martinez, Matthew Hincman, Jarrett LoPresti, Mia Diers, Hailey Alm, Bilal Ashraf, Matthew Manning, Lisa Ganak, Rebecca Joseph, Noelle Kellicher, Brigitte Ruiz, Nereida Martinez, Gerald Robbins, Marguerite Rosenthal and Fran Streeter.
Thanks to our elected officials who participated: State Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez and family, Councilor Matt O’Malley, Councilor Felix Arroyo and Councilor Ayanna Pressley. And for helping keep everyone safe, we thank the officers from District E-13/Boston Police Department.
The Friends of the Connolly Branch Library and the Connolly Branch Library staff feel very lucky to be part of a thriving and generous community. There’s no better place to celebrate Halloween than right here in Jamaica Plain!
Laura Foner, Children’s Librarian, Connolly Branch Library
Sylvia Velez, Friends of the Connolly Branch Library
Jamaica Plain