Imagine 1946 (some of you might not have to imagine it). Harry S Truman is in office, and the United States is recovering from World War II. The first Baby Boomers are being born, the Federal minimum wage was 40 cents, a house costs $2,600, a dozen eggs cost 59 cents, there are no computers or cell phones, and sugar is still being rationed. However, Irvington merchants are determined to make Halloween fun for adults and kids. A small parade down East Washington St. is organized — and a tradition was born.
Thursday night, Oct. 24, bring the kids to A Night Out in Sleepy Hollow at 7 p.m. on the Irving Circle Park (south circle on Audubon) for scary stories and a performance by the Black Hat Society (free admission, dress for the weather). On Friday, Oct. 25, the Zombie Bike Ride starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Irvington Library, 5625 E. Washington St. for an undead ride through Irvington. If you don’t ride, you can come out to cheer them on the route (see irvingtonhalloween.com/zombie-bike-ride for a map). The Irvington Ghost Tours also run Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 7 p.m. at the Irving Theatre on the corner of E. Washington and Johnson.
Saturday, October 26, East Washington will be closed between Ritter and Arlington at 4 a.m. for the festivities. The Vampire Run begins at 9:30 a.m., so don’t be surprised to see hundreds of costumed runners and walkers dashing through the neighborhood! The Street Fair begins at 10 a.m., and the fun begins with hundreds of vendors, thousands of costumed kids and adults and pets, music, contests, food, and a little bit of chaos. Kids will find all sorts of activities in the Kid Zone at the corner of Bonna and Audubon, and adults can find refreshments in the Beer Garden on East Washington in the Starbucks parking lot area. All of it ends with the Marty Powell Costume parade that begins at 4:30 p.m. (line up begins at 4 p.m.). For a detailed listing of contests and performances, visit irvingtonhalloween.com/street-fair, or pick up one of last week’s Weekly View supplements at Hampton & Co. or at the Historic Irvington Community Council booth on the corner of Audubon and Washington (check out their swag while you’re there).
Official parking for the Festival can be found at Irvington Plaza (6401 E. Washington) and Howe Middle School for $5 (4900 Julian Ave.). There will be shuttle buses going to and from the festival until 5:30 p.m., but the buses are NOT handicap accessible. Handicap parking can be found in the Snips parking lot behind the main stage. Please inform the officer that you require handicap parking.
The work of a lot of volunteers behind the scenes of this year’s Historic Irvington Halloween Festival make everything possible. Planning the week-long affair starts about a week after the Street Festival on Saturday, giving everyone a little time to recuperate.
Officially, Halloween trick-or-treat times in Indianapolis are on Thursday, Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m. In Beech Grove, hours are 5:30-8:30 p.m., Lawrence from 6-8 p.m. IMPD will be patrolling neighborhoods to ensure everyone has a safe time, and the Fire Department will also host trick-or-treaters at their fire stations.
Paula Nicewanger/Weekly View
Take a drive through the neighborhood to see all the great decorations, like this one at Julian and Audubon.
