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Epiphany’s Annual Halloween Parade Pays Visit to NYPD Pct.

The annual Halloween parade through the streets of Gramercy Park surrounding the school’s lower campus has been staged for over 40 years, said principal Kate McHugh. A highlight of the annual parade is the visit to the 13th Pct.

| 01 Nov 2024 | 12:25
    A parade goer from Epiphany school poses before the an NYPD shield in the 13th Precinct stationhouse, an annual stop on the school’s annual parade through the streets of Gramercy Park.
    A parade goer from Epiphany school poses before the an NYPD shield in the 13th Precinct stationhouse, an annual stop on the school’s annual parade through the streets of Gramercy Park. ( Photo: Keith J. Kelly)
    The youngest students always get the biggest kick out of the annual Halloween parade that the Epiphany School has been staging through Gramercy Park for about 45 years.
    The youngest students always get the biggest kick out of the annual Halloween parade that the Epiphany School has been staging through Gramercy Park for about 45 years. ( Photo: Keith J. Kelly)
    Parents get into the festive spirit along with the kids from the Epiphany School at the annual Halloween parade.
    Parents get into the festive spirit along with the kids from the Epiphany School at the annual Halloween parade. ( Photo: Keith J. Kelly)
    Adults get into the festive spirit at the annual Epiphany Halloween parade.
    Adults get into the festive spirit at the annual Epiphany Halloween parade. ( Photo: Keith J. Kelly)
    Workers inside the 13th Precinct pass out good bags to parade goes from the Epiphany School at the elementary’s schools annual Halloween parade through the streets of Gramercy Park.
    Workers inside the 13th Precinct pass out good bags to parade goes from the Epiphany School at the elementary’s schools annual Halloween parade through the streets of Gramercy Park. ( Photo: Keith J. Kelly)

The theme for the 45th annual Epiphany Halloween parade was New York sports teams with Rangers, Mets and Yankee regalia sprinkled throughout the parade of 200 kids joined by their parents and teachers that stretched for a full city block on Oct. 31.

But it was still the costume characters from movies and cartoon characters that dominated the parade with most girls wearing colorful outfits from animated movies.

One dad, spotting a youngster in a Mets uniform quipped, “I’m thinking of switching to the Mets after last night,” a reference to the Yankees error plagued Game 5 loss that gave the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But it was all good natured banter as the parade of kids, parents and teachers snaked its way through the entrance of the former Police Academy, which had been serving as temporary housing for migrants in recent months, and then out the front door of the 13th Pct. on E. 21st. St. before circling back to the school’s lower school campus on E. 22nd St.

”It was another fun day,” said principal Kate McHugh, who said she believes the parade tradition is over 40 years old.

”It started in 1981,” said former principal Jim Hayes who now serves as school president. “We used to walk up Third Ave. to Lex through the Police Academy and then exited through the 13th Pct. Police have always been supportive. Great support from parents who also dress up.”

The Catholic elementary school has a campus on E. 22nd St. and a middle school on E. 28th St. but it is kids from pre-K to fourth grade on the lower school who turn out for the annual parade.

The parade makes about a half-mile loop through the streets that the local precinct closes to traffic.

”There was some Con Edison construction going this year, but they were very helpful and moved one of their trucks for us,” McHugh said.

McHugh, who was a student and then a teacher at the school before she succeed longtime principal Jim Hayes in the top spot, said that the parade had about 200 kids plus parents and teachers participating.

The parade draws a smile from local police officers as well. “It’s great. The kids get a huge kick out of it,” said one officer. “And it’s a nice change of pace for us.“ Several workers at the stationhouse passed out goodie bags to the kids while parents snapped pictures in front of a police shield and other props in the background.

”The kids always say it is one of their best days of the school year,” said McHugh.