Families in costumes packed Purchase Street in downtown Rye on Sunday, Oct. 18, for the city's 73rd annual Halloween Window Painting.
The event drew princesses, superheroes and plenty of pumpkins to the storefronts along the street, according to MyRye.com. The day also featured the third annual Halloween costume parade.
Rye Recreation and Children's Philanthropy of Rye organized the festivities, with assistance from the Rye Department of Public Works, Rye Police Department and local merchants, MyRye.com reported.
Purchase Street was closed from the Square House to Purdy Avenue from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. for the event. The Rye City Council approved the street closure unanimously at its Jan. 28 meeting, with Councilperson Jamie Jensen moving the consent agenda item and Councilperson James Ward seconding. Mayor Josh Nathan and all five councilpersons voted in favor.
The event had a rain date of Sunday, Oct. 25.
Participation was open to Rye residents in grades 1 through 8, according to the Rye Recreation Department's event page. Painters registered online in teams of two at a fee of $50 per team. Registration was capped at 400 teams, and all registrants needed a Community Pass account to sign up.
The Woman's Club of Rye co-sponsored the event alongside Rye Recreation, according to the city's event listing. Erin Mantz, the Rye Recreation superintendent, oversees the department's slate of annual community events on city streets.
The window painting tradition stretches back more than seven decades in Rye, making it one of the city's longest-running community gatherings.
What's next: The 49th annual Turkey Run is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 28, starting at 9 a.m. on city streets. That event was also approved at the council's Jan. 28 meeting.
