Youngsters in Kingsbridge Heights and Longwood celebrated Halloween early as a large crowd turned out for Theory 9’s Annual “Trick or Streets” Halloween Festival held on a dead-end (no pun intended) at West 231st Street and Sedgwick Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 25.

 

The scheduled six-hour event included live music, games, arts and crafts and face painting as well as other activities for the whole family. Prior to the event, founder and CEO of Theory 9, Shakir Seagers, said, “Trick or Streets is about creating a safe space for our youth and families to celebrate.” Seagers added, “We’re turning community blocks into places of unity, laughter, and empowerment right here in The Bronx.”

Nidgi Imine is an Algerian immigrant and Long Island resident who came to The Bronx specifically to bring his son, Ryan, 6, to the event. “It’s our first time here and it’s amazing; the boy is very happy,” he said.

 

One Kingsbridge Heights mom told Norwood News, “I’m really happy; this brings the community together and it allows kids to actually know that there are other children here that they can also communicate with and play with.” She explained how her kids made bracelets at the arts and crafts table and also enjoyed pumpkin-making and creating different shapes out of balloons.

Another mom, Alanis, also a Kingsbridge Heights resident, said of the event, “It’s my first time here.” She explained how her kids were participating in the balloon-making and “playing games and dancing.” Her three kids were all wearing costumes. “We like it a lot and we’ll be back again next year,” she said.

 

According to its website, Theory 9 is a non-profit organization established in 2019, based in Kingsbridge, and introduces knowledge, self-worth, love, and connecting all aspects of life while bringing education to the youth in underserved communities.

On the same day, a large crowd also turned out for the 40^th Annual Bronx Halloween Parade the route for which was down Westchester Avenue in the Longwood section of the borough.

 

The event kicked off with a street co-naming at East 163rd Street and Simpson Street, an intersection now called, “Bronx Halloween Parade Way.” This year’s Grand Marshals were ‘Funkmaster Flex,’ a deejay with Hot 97 FM, and TV host, Rhina Valentin.

Prior to the Halloween, homes and businesses across the borough and surrounding areas were also seen busily gearing up for the holiday preparing scary home, porch, and store displays to mark the holiday.

 

One Tik-Tok video showed a fake body swinging from a streetlight on Walton Avenue near Yankee Stadium.

The head of a skeleton currently greets customers at the Raceway Wine and Liquors store on Yonkers Avenue in Yonkers.

 

Meanwhile, a friendly competition developed on Melville Street in the Van Nest section of The Bronx as the owners of several homes, we’re told, engaged in a “Halloween War,” each attempting to outdo each other with their respective Halloween holiday displays.

Finally, at the 99 Cent Super store on Colden Avenue in Morris Park, a scary-looking figure with an even scarier voice currently tells passersby, “Your destiny awaits you; let me show you the way!”

 

For more Halloween coverage, click here.