Norwood: Pumpkin Party at the Williamsbridge Oval

By DAVID GREENE

Arriving at the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center’s Annual Pumpkin Party is “Bumble Bee,” Katherine Contreras, 2, of Norwood on Saturday, October 30, 2021.
Photo by David Greene

Children of all ages, dressed in various costumes, turned out for the annual Pumpkin Party at the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, located at 3225 Reservoir Oval East, in Norwood on Saturday, Oct. 30.

Parents watch their children work on arts and crafts projects as well as enjoying other fun Halloween activities at the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center’s Pumpkin Party on Saturday, October 30, 2021.
Photo by David Greene

Carnival games, a smaller and less scary “haunted house,” a photo booth for taking festive photos, and arts and crafts were all on offer this year at the event which was organized by Parks’ department officials.

Youngsters enjoy a day of safe, Halloween fun as they work on arts and crafts projects at the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center’s Pumpkin Party on Saturday, October 30, 2021.
Photo by David Greene

Castle Hill mom, Joanna Boala, brought along her two daughters Jasleen, 6, and Abbie, 2, to the spooky event, having learned of it from the Parks’ department website.

Boala told the Norwood News, “It’s our first time here; it’s very nice. I’m happy I brought my kids here.”

“Bumble bee,” Jasleen Boala, 6, and (good) “witch,” Abbie Boala, 2, of Castle Hill enjoy Halloween activities at the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center on Saturday, October 30, 2021.
Photo by David Greene

When told that the haunted house was less scary than in past years, Boala said, “It’s good that it’s not too scary.”

The Boala children and dozens of others enjoyed an afternoon of face-painting, arts and crafts, as well as fun games and free candy.

Liana Luna, 12, of Norwood enjoys celebrating Halloween at the Williamsbridge Oval as she “wears” a fake knife on her head at the Williamsbridge Oval Halloween party on Saturday, October 30, 2021.
Photo by David Greene

Party attendee, Liana Luna, 12, of Norwood was seen “wearing” a fake dagger that gave the impression it was going right through her head, in dramatic fashion.

Other kids were seen dressed as bumble bees like 2-year-old, Katherine Contreras, and others as superheroes like Spiderman.

Partygoers had been advised prior to the event that masks were a requirement to attend in order to keep everyone safe. As reported, the event took place a few days before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that kids aged 5 through 11 can now be vaccinated against COVID-19.

A large crowd waiting to get inside as the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center celebrated Halloween on Saturday, October 30,2021.
Photo by David Greene

Mayor Bill de Blasio later announced that kids in that age group can now get vaccinated at any City vaccine center and will also be eligible to receive $100, once vaccinated.

A first group of children have already been vaccinated at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in Norwood on Wednesday, Nov. 3, as reported, following the announcement by the CDC on Nov. 2.

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.