Portsmouth Halloween Parade ‘a lot enjoyable’ it is scary

PORTSMOUTH — From shiny spacemen to butterflies to pirates, colourful costumes have been fluttering within the brisk wind as marchers assembled Oct. 31 at Peirce Island for the beginning of the thirtieth Portsmouth Halloween Parade. 

Billed as an “all-inclusive celebration of community, creativity and free expression,” this distinctive independently organized parade boasts skilled performers in addition to the on a regular basis people, together with the Portsmouth Thriller dancers.

The occasion kicked off at 7 p.m. at nighttime and wind, however parade grand marshal Russ Grazier, and his forged of shiny space-suited, rock fantasy pals lit up the night time.

Grazier selected his David Bowie “Space Oddity” theme, not just because Bowie is one of his favorite musicians of all time but, “because of what he stands for, being creative and being yourself.”

As the co-founder of Portsmouth Music and Arts Center, Grazier mentioned the town is the right place for a nonprofit that builds group via artwork. That’s as a result of the humanities are so extremely valued right here, he mentioned.

“The arts do so many things at once for children,” Grazier mentioned. “Allowing them to express creativity, be in a social environment and find mentorship with professionals. The arts teach us life skills that would benefit any career path, not just in art.”

Creativity on show in parade and in crowd

Artistry and creativity have been actually on show with hand-crafted costumes, together with a household of skeletons, Cory, Lindsay, Brooklyn and Beckett Wiltz, sporting outsized skulls they created with a 3D printer.

Many among the crowds who packed the sidewalks to watch the parade were dressed up as well. Danny and Kristen Robinson dressed as The Man with the Yellow Hat and Curious George.

Leslie Cain of Portsmouth and friends Rhonda Chase and Bill Belcher of Farmington, snag the same spot each year in front of Prescott Park.

Cain created a spooky sidewalk vignette in a suitcase and balanced on a stroller, with few skeletal friends, Belladonna and Hemlock, dressed for the occasion.

“I found the stroller on the sidewalk and just continued to add pieces to it,” she mentioned.

The Leftist Marching Band, wearing inexperienced with a frog theme, had an indication that learn “Frogs Fighting Fascism.”

Bandleader Elizabeth Wolff says it’s a nod to the protests in Portland, Oregon.

‘New veteran’ of Portsmouth Thriller

The Thriller dancing group practices its routine, set to Micheal Jackson’s Thriller, for weeks forward of the large night time. Kat Anania, of Portsmouth, interviewed earlier than the parade began, mentioned she is a “new veteran” of the Thriller boot camp.

Monster Troupe and Thriller: Stars of Portsmouth Halloween Parade in excessive demand

“This has been so much fun,” Anania mentioned. “I’ve always wanted to do it but never could because of the commitment. Now that I am retired, I am looking forward to dancing with family, old friends, and a lot of new friends.” Among them her sister Joanne McDonough, of The Joy of Beauty, is a makeup artist who has been involved with the parade for 20-plus years.

Kelley Bennett, of Meredith, in a Venetian ball gown of her own design, was joined by Natalie Traber, a Milford resident who designed her costume as well, as a “nature sorcerer.” Mister Jack, a very lucky black cat, was decked out for the evening and riding in a stroller.

1970s TV show inspires one costume

Jason and Trisha Brewster of Portsmouth, veterans of the parade, were dressed as a skeleton and Mrs. Helen Roper and headed off to have a pre-march Cosmopolitan.

Trisha said her coworkers are too young to remember the colorful housewife of the 1970s sitcom, “Three’s Company.”

“But, if you know you know,” she mentioned.