Some neighborhoods celebrate Halloween. Park Slope makes you feel like you belong.
At this year's Park Slope Civic Council Halloween Parade, costumes, music, and glowing decorations filled the streets. But what stayed with me wasn't the spectacle. It was the neighbors.
Neighbors welcomed families. Brownstones became works of art. Children laughed, musicians performed, and residents put their own time and creativity into making the night special for everyone.
I've photographed celebrations across New York City, and Park Slope stands apart because its community doesn't just attend an event; it creates one together.
The parade also carried messages about voting and civic participation. Brad Lander called it "a great night," looking ahead to the marathon and Election Day.
The evening ended with live music at the park, but the feeling lingered. Park Slope reminds us that a neighborhood becomes special when people show up for one another, well beyond Halloween night.
