The 12th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade is scheduled for Sunday, October 26, at 2 p.m.
The parade will begin at 2 p.m. at Mt. Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte and continue down to the Mount Vernon Recreational Center play fields at Mt. Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues. Children, pets, and strollers in costumes are invited to march and show off their finest and scariest Halloween garb. To register a stroller, please look for the registration desk at Bellefonte and Mt. Vernon Avenues beginning at 1:30 p.m. For Pet Registration, there is a new location – it will begin at 1:30 at Barkley Square at 2006 Mt. Vernon Avenue.
This year's parade will feature awards for the Best Pet Costume, Best Decorated Business, Best Decorated Home, and Best Decorated Stroller. Nominations for best decorated business can be made by calling 703.684.3535 or emailing gayle.reuter@mail.house.gov Nominations for best decorated home can be made by contacting Jennifer Walker at 703-286-1206 or jen@jenwalker.com Judges include local city and community officials, past and present. Awards will be given out at a brief ceremony at Mt. Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues following the parade, along with refreshments (hot dogs donated by 7-Eleven, cider, and cookies) and goodie bags for the children. Entertainment will be provided and again this year there will be games for the children. They will take place at the Mt. Vernon fields immediately following the parade. All activities are free!
For the fifth year, residents will collect and distribute Halloween costumes for children who would otherwise have to go without. Donated costumes will be collected at the Caboose Cafe, 2419 Mt. Vernon Avenue and A Show of Hands, 2204 Mt. Vernon Avenue, and distributing them on Saturday, October 25, from 2-4 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center . Larger size costumes are especially needed
After the parade, beginning at 6:30 pm, for the 2nd year, families can enjoy a haunted graveyard that is being constructed by Bean Creative and will be located next to their lot at Mt. Vernon and E. Del Ray Avenue. Last year in its debut, it proved to be a new, must do Del Ray tradition. Special thanks to our business neighbor, Bean Creative.
The parade is sponsored by the Del Ray Business Association (DRBA) and the City of Alexandria. They are looking for additional sponsors and welcome financial contributions, goodie bag contributions, and volunteers. We will need lots of donated candy and goodies in order to fill more than 2,000 goodie bags so look for donation boxes at your favorite Del Ray business. Finally, if you would like to help stuff 2,000 goodie bags, join your neighbors on Saturday, October 25, at 2 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center.
For more information, contact: Gayle Reuter at 703-684-3535 or gayle.reuter@mail.house.gov