IRVINGTON — Now in its 67th Year, the Historic Irvington Halloween Festival continues to grow. Activities have been going on since Oct. 19, including window painting at local businesses, a costume party at Black Acre on Oct. 22, the Art and Silent Auction Oct. 21, and concerts, movie screenings, and much more.
There’s a lot new this year as the festival attracts interest beyond Marion County and central Indiana. Joanna Rohrback, Queen of Prancercise, will be this year’s special guest at the The Historic Irvington Halloween Festival on October 26th. She will be Prancercising during the Red Dress Fantastically Fun Jaunt that morning, as well as serve as the grand marshall of the costume parade. She will also be signing copies of her book, Prancercise: The Art of Physical and Spiritual Excellence, at Bookmamas on Oct. 26 from 11:00-1:00.
There will be a Zombie Bike Ride on Oct. 25, an annual costumed bicycle ride through Irvington sponsored by Indy Cycle Specialist. The ride will begin at the Irvington Branch Library at 7:15 p.m.. Dufour’s will be providing a hot dog and brat buffet following the ride. The event is free.
The highlight of the Historic Irvington Halloween Festival is the Pleasant Run Run on Oct. 26 — this year, they will also have a Red Dress Run of 2 miles, with men and women in red dresses running the course around Ellenberger beginning at 9:30 a.m. in a strictly fun run. Registration is available online at https://secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=9305.
This year’s street festival takes place Oct. 26 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., closing off East Washington St. between Ritter and Bolton Ave. There are three stages of entertainment, activities for kids at the Irvington Library, lots of food and craft vendors, and the merchants along East Washington St. and Audubon will be open and have specials throughout the day. The Indie Handicraft Exchange will have a large tent in the parking lot of Irvington Presbyterian Church.
Irvington Presbyterian Church on S. Johnson will carry on their tradition of a fish fry on Friday and Saturday.
The best part of the street fair is the Costume Parade at 4 p.m. when hundreds of costumed kids, adults, and pets walk down East Washington St. in their finery. About 2 hours before the parade begins, there is a costume contest for children and pets at a booth near the library on the corner of Audubon and East Washington St. This year’s “Grand Marshal” will be Joanna Rohrback of Prancerise fame.
On Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. and on Oct. 26 at noon and 2 p.m., Q Artistry presents the family-friendly Monster Concert with an all-star cast and great tunes. Tickets are $8 for students and seniors; $10 general admission. They’ll also be performing Cabaret Poe at 8 p.m. (call 800-838-3006 or visit qartistry.org to reserve tickets, as these shows sell out fast).
The Weekly View’s own ghost guy, Al Hunter, will continue his 2013 Irvington Ghost Tours Oct. 25 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and on Oct. 26 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are available a half hour before the tours for $15 (cash only) at the former Lazy Daze, or at Bookmamas and Magic Candle. Tickets include a button, a book, and a wonderful tour through the historic and haunted Irvington community. The last days of the tour are Nov. 1 and 2 at 7 p.m.
