By Nicole Breskin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
GREENWICH VILLAGE – Pouring rain couldn’t scare away thousands of costumed revelers from marching up Sixth Avenue Saturday night in Greenwich Village's annual Halloween Parade.
“No way is rain going to stop me,” said 81-year-old Cynthia Philip, who has participated in the parade for more than 30 years, and was wielding a bat puppet. “My mom always said I was like sugar, but I wouldn’t melt.”
This year’s theme was “Terra Incognita” (Latin for “unknown land”) to play on the issues that New Yorkers face in their everyday lives.
“I kept hearing how we’re in unchartered territory,” said Jeanne Fleming, artistic and producing director of the parade. “Nobody knows what’s going to happen with the economy.”
The parade itself was suffering financial difficulties. Organizers said they were down from 20 sponsored floats last year to 12 this year.
Also, the first set of paraders this year were a group of a dozen parade staffers seeking donations for next year.
But Fleming said the adversity, at least come parade night, was about opportunity – especially for new forms of self-expression for the paraders.
“It offers possibilities and new ways of thinking,” she said. “This is about the people and all the amazing costumes they’re making.”
Some revelers decided to embrace social issues.
A group of women in risque outfits wearing pig noses and tails called themselves the swine fluzies. Other people dressed as local politicians, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Denise Corley, of Brooklyn, paraded as a zombie for health care reform.
“Zombies don’t need health care, but everyone else does,” she said. “There are so many people watching, it seemed like a great place for the message.”
But the majority of the parade-goers chose less political costumes.
Ali Dizkes, an aspiring 28-year-old actress who lives on the Upper West Side, and a friend dressed as Nintendo characters Mario and Luigi.
“It’s just about having a good time and forgetting about problems,” she said. “I like dressing as happy things.”
For Nicole Hansen of the Lower East Side, the parade was truly about letting it all hang out. She went with her chest only covered in body paint, as part of a group organized by artist Andy Golub.
“I thought I’d be more of a coward, but whatever, it’s New York,” she said.
No surprise, one of the most popular costumes this year was Michael Jackson, with some groups marching to the Halloween anthem “Thriller," including ThrillerNYC, a dance tribute group to the late king of pop.
But Yoku Higuchi, 14, who lives in Midtown West, went to the parade solo dressed as Michael Jackson.
“My moves aren’t perfect,” said Higuchi. “But I’ll still try. I thought this would be a good way to honor Michael Jackson’s legacy.”
And the parade wasn’t only for people.
A crowd favorite was Pierre, a two-year-old sheep-herding llama, who marched with a liquor company’s float.
"It's such a fun outing in New York City," said Pierre's local agent Linda Hanrahan. "I hope he has a good time, too."
