Freeport prepares for annual family fall festival, Halloween parade, and fire expo

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The Village of Freeport is gearing up for the much-anticipated Annual Family Fall Festival, Halloween Parade, and the 35th Freeport Fire Department Fire Expo at the Nautical Mile on Oct. 27.

The festival promises a day of family fun, good eats and sweet treats, running from 12 to 3 p.m. at the parking lot across from Off The Hook, which is at 195 Woodcleft Ave.

Elizabeth Comerford, director of the Freeport Recreation Center, who is organizing the event along with the fire department and the Chamber of Commerce, shared details about the festival’s varied offerings and the community effort behind its organization.

The event features a Trunk or Treat experience for families. “It’s like trick or treating, but just outside of people’s cars,” Comerford explained. “So people decorate their cars to look spooky or fun or whatever, and it’s like kids going up to the cars instead of like houses.”

Those interested in participating with decorated vehicles can sign up by calling (516) 377-2311 or emailing ecomerford@freeportny.gov.

Comerford emphasized the need for community participation, adding, “If anyone’s interested in joining us with the trunk or treat, just give me a call.”

The Freeport Recreation Center and the Freeport Police Benevolent Association will supply all candy for the Trunk or Treat.

The festival will also include a Halloween Costume Parade, with participants marching up Woodcleft Avenue, showcasing their festive costumes. The Freeport High School Marching Band will take part.

The parade, which will feature floats, marchers and the trunk-or-treat along the way, will begin lining up marchers at 11:30 a.m. The route steps off at Sea Breeze Park on Richmond Street and travels up the Nautical Mile to the municipal parking lot. All are welcome to walk the parade route, and costumes are strongly encouraged.

“So there’s a lot of different things happening at once,” Comerford said, noting the presence of the Freeport Fire Department’s Fire Expo, where visitors will be given demonstrations of equipment, giveaways and safety tips.

Comerford highlighted the importance of such events in keeping the Nautical Mile vibrant throughout the year:

“It’s nice … to highlight the mile again during an off-season,” she said. “So (it’s just nice to) remind people that mile is still there, some restaurants are still open, even outside of summer and, you know, just hopefully a beautiful day, just for some fun.”

An additional highlight of the day is the Chamber of Commerce’s Chowder Contest, which will take place at the Esplanade. Around 10 Nautical Mile restaurants will put their best chowder forward, and for $5, visitors can try all the entries.

While planning has gone smoothly, Comerford emphasized that the weather is a key factor for the festival’s success.

“Now, it’s just all, it’s a weather game at this point,” she said.

“The weather has been great, so this should be a really fun afternoon,” Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy said. “Chowder is great any time of the year, but especially when you’re enjoying it with a water view. Everyone should come on down and support their favorite ghosts, ghouls and chowder.”

As families gather for the festivities, they can also look forward to a free screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas on Oct. 26 at 6 p.m., just in time for Halloween.

As the final touches come together for this year’s festival, Comerford and the event’s organizers remain hopeful for a fun-filled day that brings together residents of all ages in celebration of the autumn season.