It’s that time of year again — the weather is getting chillier, the haunted vibes are settling in, and Halloween is officially upon us. October brings about some fun Halloween events and traditions locally, including Hoboken’s annual Ragamuffin Parade — which is finally back in full force after being impacted by the pandemic. The parade was canceled in 2020 due to COVID, and last year’s 2021 parade was scaled back and didn’t have its usual costume contest. This year’s parade, which will once again feature the costume contest, will be held on Monday, October 31st. The line of march setup will begin at 3:15PM on Washington Street between 13th and 14th Street for an official parade start time of 4PM. Everyone is, of course, encouraged to wear costumes. Read on to see what to expect for this year’s Ragamuffin Halloween Parade in Hoboken.
About the Parade
The Ragamuffin Parade tradition dates back to the late 1870s when it was a part of Thanksgiving celebrations.
History differs, but the two common stories are that children would wear either costumes or their parents’ (of course, oversized) clothes, giving them the appearance of ragamuffins. Another version is that it was an opportunity for poor children to go begging door-to-door for money or leftover food after Thanksgiving.
After the Depression, it became part of Halloween celebrations. While the parade itself has its roots in New York City, it has spread to mainly the outer boroughs. The parades take place in many other cities around the NYC area, but the Hoboken version is one of the best-known. It has been going on since 1963 and will return this year with a bang.
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This Year’s Parade
After being canceled in 2020 during the pandemic and forgoing the Halloween costume contest last year, the Ragamuffin Parade in Hoboken is back in full force.
It will be held on Monday, October 31st on Washington Street. The line of march setup will begin at 3:15PM on Washington Street between 13th and 14th Street for an official parade start time of 4PM.
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The parade will feature local live music, floats, and many awesome costumes. After the parade, the costume contest will be held at The Little League Field, located at 5th Street + River Terrace, and it will start at 4:30PM.
There will be prizes given out across a range of five categories, and the event will be hosted by Polka Dot.
For more information about this event, click here.
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