On the night of Halloween, the town of Hamilton, N.Y., was transformed into a festive scene of seasonal cheer, complete with spooky-themed decor outside each storefront and smiling kids running around, eager to score some candy. The nostalgic ambience exactly captured the feeling of a small-town Halloween, and walking through the streets, it was impossible not to be filled with the spirit of the holiday.
Halloween in Hamilton officially kicked off at 3:30 p.m. at the Hamilton Public Library, which was open to children of all ages for an hour of Halloween-themed crafts and a spooky story time. Later in the evening, the Hamilton Theater invited families to a free 5:30 p.m. showing of “Coraline,” sponsored by the Colgate Bookstore and completely open to the public.
However, the most quintessential piece of Halloween in Hamilton was — and, undoubtedly, always is — the costume parade. Local families walked through the village decked out in full costume and holding the hands of their children, who were jumping with joy. Every business between 4:15 and 5:15 p.m. either had a bowl of candy displayed outside for children to take or had someone standing outside the door ready to hand it out and talk with the kids about their costumes. The sense of community is absolutely palpable on this holiday, and it was priceless to watch the children go door-to-door and give their best shot at pronouncing “trick or treat!”
First-year Alexia Kilroy spent her first Halloween in Hamilton and she loved the sense of nostalgia the day brought.
“It reminded me so much of Halloween when I was a kid, especially the trick or treating, which was really nice to see,” Kilroy said.
Dianne Johnson, senior retail manager at the Colgate Bookstore, commented on her experience of Halloween in Hamilton over the years.
“All the local businesses are giving out candy,” Johnson said. “As far as I know, [the village] went out on all social media advertising.”
Referencing the annual parade, Johnson emphasized the importance of the tradition to the village of Hamilton.
“It’s been going on for a long time,” Johnson said. “I don’t know how many years — certainly since I’ve been here, so that’s at least ten years.”
The weather outside only contributed further to the pleasantry of the afternoon — a beautifully sunny day with temperatures topping off in the high seventies. It was ideal weather for trick-or-treating, and a nice change of pace for Hamilton’s traditionally chilly Halloween.
“I remember when I first moved up here, the kids were all wearing winter coats under their costumes,” Johnson said. “So [this weather] is a nice treat for them.”
However, the sponsored events that make up this Hamilton tradition are not as important to the day as the people are. Seeing business owners and employees standing outside their storefronts holding big bowls of candy, excited to hear the next child ask for a treat and talk about their costume, is truly what makes Halloween in Hamilton special.
Colgate students living off-campus also play an important role in making the day memorable for the children, as they stand outside their apartments and houses with their own bowls of candy, excited to become a part of the tradition.
Junior Alexa Watson decided to visit town to see the festivities for the first time, and she, too, was moved by the sense of community felt throughout the streets.
“Next year, I’ll be living downtown, right in the parade path,” Watson said. “I can’t wait to do this, hand out candy to the kids and talk to all the families. I’m really looking forward to being a part of this community.”
While it may seem like Halloween in Hamilton is an event geared only towards young children and their families, it really is much more than that. It’s impossible to walk around town and see all the happy faces surrounding you without feeling the excitement of the holiday. Even for those of us who feel like we’ve outgrown trick or treating, it’s worth seeing and remembering what Halloween meant to us as children.
