New Hyde Park hosts sixth annual Halloween festival at Memorial Park

Hundreds of families gathered in New Hyde Park on Oct. 31 for a community Halloween celebration. The event took place at Memorial Park under clear autumn skies, providing a structured environment for residents before they began trick-or-treating.

The village hosted its sixth annual Halloween Fall Festival this year. The program included costume contests categorized by age, pumpkin decorating stations, and various games. Young volunteers assisted with activities, while pie-eating contests drew spectators.

Michelle Nikolis attended with her husband and two young children. She noted the family valued the village's effort to organize the gathering. “We really appreciate the village putting together events like this for the families. It’s wonderful to have something like this for the children and the whole community to enjoy,” Nikolis said.

Sharon Swithin, a lifelong resident, brought her 20-month-old son for the first time. The family wore a group costume inspired by the animated film “Ratatouille.” “It was very exciting and so much fun,” Swithin said.

Mayor Christopher Devane stated the village intends to keep the tradition alive. “This is the sixth year we are doing it for the kids, but look at the families and the crowd it brings in,” Devane said. “We will definitely continue doing it because it brings the community together. This is what we want to see.”

The festival served as the village's primary organized Halloween event for the 2026 season.