Classic Costumes, And Huge Crowds, Returned For Halloween

By Shannon Hicks

The big costumes predicted for Halloween 2010 were Lady Gaga — in any of her myriad appearances (but perhaps most expectedly the infamous “Meat Dress” get-up she wore to the VMAs just a few weeks ago) — Michael Jackson, Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter, the cast of Jersey Shore and other popular TV programs, and even Lindsay Lohan in an orange jumper and/or ankle monitor.

Judging from the crowds that passed the front door of The Newtown Bee Sunday night, en route to the town’s largest assembly of costumes and trick or treaters on Main Street, it was a pair of classics that seemed to top Newtown’s choice. Princesses of all forms and Ninja warriors were costume of choice for many of the costumed youngsters who stopped at 5 Church Hill Road for a piece of candy or two on October 31.

Many girls went all out, dressing in pink, yellow, light blue, or lavender gowns with plenty of tulle and tiaras, while their male counterparts went black from head to toe.

A few Mad Hatters were indeed seen, including one family that went all-Alice in Wonderland theme with Mad Hatter, The Queen of Hearts, and Alice, and another family who had Mad Hatter and Alice, but whose other members went as a Transformer, Michael Myers, and Bride of Frankenstein. An earlier Depp character, Pirate Jack Sparrow, was also popular again this year.

Vampires continued to be popular for all ages, with the teen set continuing the craze set in motion a few years ago with the release of the popular Twilight books and subsequent feature films. Harry Potter costumes also remained popular this year, but with a twist. Instead of appearing as the boy wizard, one young girl was dressed as Harry’s friend Hermione Grainger, and a young man, appearing at a separate time, was Draco Malfoy.

Transformers costumes were equally popular, as was Iron Man, Spider Man, and Woody (and an equal number of Jessie the Cowgirl) from Toy Story.

Another classic costume — a “Charlie Brown ghost” — also made an appearance at 5 Church Hill Road.

Original homemade costumes that were a hit included one young man dressed as a toilet, who had hung a pillowcase from the seat of the toilet through which to put his candy, while another young man appeared as a candy vending machine. On the back of the cardboard box that served as his machine was the message “All Kids Are Candy Machines!”

The weather this year was much cooler than recent years, in which children and parents have enjoyed warmer weather; this year’s Halloween returned to a classic autumn chill. Many were wearing gloves even when they began their circuit around Main Street, and by 8 pm when things had calmed down, countless children had been bundled into heavy coats and hoods.

Madness On Main Street

For the residents of Main Street, Halloween means being prepared to welcome hordes of children and parents to their homes for quick visits over the span of a few hours.

John and Sherry Bermingham, who live at 42 Main Street, counted 2,825 visitors to their front door this year.

“We gave one piece of candy per kid, and we saved the bags,” Mrs Bermingham said this week. “Then we looked up the serving size from each bag and added it all up.

“This was easily the largest number we have ever seen,” she added, describing the post-Halloween candy crush as leaving her “stupefied.”

“The previous few years had been 2,200, 2,300 [trick or treaters] for us,” Mrs Bermingham said. “We thought that was kind of the critical mass, that no one else would be able to fit into town, but we were wrong. We were so wrong.”

Those who live on the stretch of road that runs from the four-way intersection of Main Street at Glover Avenue, Sugar Street and Main Street South to approximately the intersection of Main Street with Currituck Road — a stretch of no more than three-quarters of a mile — know that costumed children and their parents from across (and well outside) town consider the annual trek to their homes the highlight of Halloween. It is a trend that has been growing for two decades, and it continued its upward spiral this year.

For newcomers, however, there is no way to fully understand what is coming until October 31 has arrived. Jennifer and Michael Sheehan moved into the house at 38 Main Street about a month ago, making a short jump from Poverty Hollow Road in southwest Newtown. Moving from a home that was at the top of a hill with a long driveway into a house on the corner of Church Hill Road and Main Street was a big change for the young couple.

“We haven’t seen a trick or treater for three years,” Mrs Sheehan said Tuesday night. “We had no idea what Halloween was like here.”

She was forewarned, she admitted, by both her realtor and neighbors, who strongly encouraged she and her husband start stocking up early for candy.

“I don’t think you can ever quite prepare someone for what happens. You really need to experience it for yourself,” she laughed. “The amount of kids, and adults in costumes, and grandparents in costumes... It was like a parade, a Halloween parade down Main Street. I couldn’t move the candy faster.”

Mrs Sheehan’s in-laws visited her new home on Sunday, and the family expected that it would be a steady but leisurely late afternoon and early evening of handing out candy.

“In my mind, I figured my in-laws would be here, and I would sit and relax while they were going to be here handing out the candy,” said Mrs Sheehan. “I brought down my nail file, expecting to sit and relax and do my nails while my mother-in-law handed out candy.”

That didn’t happen.

“Oh my god it was insane,” said Mrs Sheehan, whose first costumed visitor arrived at her front door at 3:30. She worked — with husband, her mother- and father-in-law, and 20-month-old daughter Emma — for the next four hours straight.

“We had no idea that was coming,” she said. “But my daughter loved it. She loved handing out candy. We all did.”

Mrs Sheehan was also surprised at the decorations that were put up around her. This year there was a number of homes with elaborate displays of carved pumpkins along porch rails and walkways. Thankeful House owners Kim and Palmer Chiappetta, at 6 Main Street, created a full display of ghosts and ghouls to the long front porch (with help from friends, Kim was quick to point out this week).

Diagonally across the street, the long front porch and lawn at 7 Main had again been turned into a pirate ship complete with its own cast of characters and, new this year, a flying clown scared hundreds of trick or treaters as it zipped over the lawn at nearby 15 Main.

“I actually ran out last night to get decorations for next year,” said Jen Sheehan. “There I was Sunday afternoon, and I thought the yard looked good and was happy. I had my scarecrows, and some pumpkins set up, but then… Little did I know that the neighbors go absolutely crazy with decorations.

“I couldn’t believe it. We were the lamest house on the street. We won’t be caught like that again,” she vowed.

While it can be overwhelming for homeowners to accommodate that many people at their front door in such a small span of time, the crowds are generally well behaved and outside help is certainly appreciated.

Good manners are certainly noticed.

“Almost everybody took just one piece of candy, and two-thirds of them said ‘Thank you,’” said Gordon Williams. He and his wife Lina, who live a few doors down from the flagpole, had help from their friend Cathy Mosher, “who loves Halloween,” said Mr Williams. “Two of us would be at the door and the third would be right behind, replenishing the candy. You really needed all three people. It’s a six-handed job,” he said with a laugh.

Like many in the neighborhood, the Williamses benefited from the generosity of others who knew they were going to need a lot of candy to get through Halloween.

“We received donations from the Trinity Church and Parks & Rec, who try to give something to everyone along the road,” Mr Williams said. “I also received some candy from my fellow Lions Club members, and we had more given to us by different people, other friends. We actually didn’t spend that much on candy.”

Lin Hertberg, of 61 Main Street, was also thankful for the extra sweets.

“The townspeople were very generous with their donations,” he said Monday morning.

“We know there were a number of collections done around town, and it was by far the most candy we’ve ever received. We wanted to make sure we said thank you,” he added. “Even with the crowds, Halloween has never been anything other than a pleasant atmosphere. A little crazy, but a lot of fun.”

(Visit www.NewtownBee.com and view the slide show that accompanies this story online under the Features tab. To see photos from readers, visit The Newtown Bee’s Facebook page and look for the Halloween 2010 photo album.)