GREENWICH VILLAGE — Wee ninjas, doctors and bumblebees came to Greenwich Village from across the city Monday afternoon to march in the neighborhood's family-friendly annual Children's Halloween Parade hours before the bigger, world famous Village parade strutted up Sixth Avenue.
Parents said the event, hosted by NYU and Community Board 2, provided a child-friendly alternative to the rowdy Village Halloween Parade, which was expected to draw as many as 2 million people Monday night.
"It's too crazy busy at night," said Villager Glenda Sansone, who dressed as a banana with her husband and costumed her 19-month-old Dylan as an ape. "This is perfect for us."
Randel Halsey, who dressed as the Super Mario Bros. with his 3-year-old son, Khary, trekked to the Village from the Bronx. "Even though it's far, it's good for the kids."
Kids ages 3 to 12 marched from the Washington Square arch, around the park's edge down to Washington Square South, where they found a carosel, bouncy slide, music, popcorn and face painting.
In her welcoming remarks at the 21st Annual Children's Halloween Parade, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who was a marshal along with Honi Klein, the former executive director of the Village Alliance and 6th Precinct Deputy Inspector Brandon del Pozo, wished the families "a happy and safe and fun and chocolate-filled Halloween."
