By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
CRANBURY—Royalty, robots and rhinestone cowboys all came out for a meet and greet at Wednesday’s annual Cranbury School Halloween Parade.
Preschool through fifth-graders strutted their stuff down Main Street all decked out in their Halloween gear.
The Mousketeers were out in full force, Dorothy and Toto made the trip out from Kansas and the human laundry basket had its debut at the parade.
The usually quiet town of Cranbury had its streets lined with doting parents, out-of-towners and local business owners all trying to get a peek at the circuit of costumed students.
Spectators were greeted with “Hello,” “Happy Halloween” and “Isn’t it a beautiful day” from passing staff and students.
John Haney, Cranbury School superintendent, led the pack decked out in his pirate gear. As a newcomer to the parade he said he was very pleased with the event.
”I had a great time with the teachers, parents and kids,” he said. “It’s a very closeknit community.”
Mr. Haney also said he appreciated a number of parents volunteering to help with the parties and the younger students’ wardrobe changes.
The 35-minute procession, which started at 1:45 p.m., kept police on their toes as local officers came out to block off Main Street between the United Methodist Church of Cranbury and Park Place East.
One witchy teacher said she notices an extra bounce in her students’ steps on this holiday.
”The children are all so excited,” third-grade teacher Jane Papszycki, said. “It’s their most favorite holiday.”
With two daughters marching through Main Street, one parent noticed a smaller turnout of onlookers this year, but said she didn’t mind not fighting the crowds.
”I think there’s fewer people out,” said Cranbury resident Debra Duke. “Often you can’t even find a space on this corner.”
Ms. Duke’s grandmother, who also came out to see her great-granddaughters, said she was pleasantly surprised as a first-timer at the parade.
”I enjoyed seeing that,” Ruth Biesecker, a Hamilton Township resident said. “I like Cranbury very much.”
A half hour after the children retreated into their classrooms for their Halloween parties, the spectators scattered and the streets emptied reclaiming their small-town feel.
