By Arvind Dilawar
Photos by John Verner

Walking Undead
Bringing Halloween Back to Life in Beacon

In 2020, when COVID-19 ravaged the world round, one of its casualties was the annual Hocus Pocus Halloween parade in Beacon. The parade usually attracts families from across Dutchess County and beyond, to show off their costumes, collect candy, and maybe get into a little bit of mischief along the way.

But with the pandemic, the parade was canceled in 2020—and then again in ’21. The following year, however, Charlotte Guernsey felt that everyone had missed out on enough. The real estate agent with the Gate House Team at Compass (and mother of two) contacted the Beacon Chamber of Commerce, which previously organized the event, and volunteered to help bring it back to life.

“I kind of stepped in and asked why it didn’t happen,” Guernsey says. “They just needed more volunteers and more help, so I got the ball rolling to get it back on the schedule with the city.”

Beacon’s Halloween parade was thus revived, and continues strong three years later.

Although the parade previously stretched the length of Main Street, Beacon’s city government has since decided to restrict such events to the east side of town. So participants now gather at Polhill Park, near the Beacon Chamber of Commerce, and amble half a dozen blocks to Veteran’s Place, beside the old post office. Built in the 1930s as part of the Depression-era Works Progress Administration, the post office would be a fittingly spooky finish line—that is, if it weren’t so charming.

Those more interested in fun and games, rather than pomp and circumstance, can also play the Black Cat Scavenger Hunt. All along Main Street, businesses displaying orange pumpkins in their storefronts have hidden toy black cats somewhere inside. Finding a cat brings a candy reward plus a stamp—15 of which can be redeemed for a grab bag of prizes at either the offices of the Gate House Team or Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices, both on Main Street.

Guernsey, who added the scavenger hunt to the Halloween line-up in 2022, credits former Main Street business The Snooki Shop, which belonged to the eponymous cast member of The Jersey Shore, as introducing her to the game.

“I thought that was a great idea,” she says. “And kids love scavenger hunts.”

Indeed, they do. Despite the recent challenges, Beacon’s Halloween parade continues to be a hit. Hundreds gather from the surrounding areas to share their scary, sweet, or surprising costumes while ambling down Main Street, some stopping at shops along the way to seek out black cats. But for Guernsey, who usually follows up the parade with lunch at one of the many restaurants lining Beacon’s Main Street, the event is not about tricks or treats—it’s about tradition.

“I really wanted to bring this back for the community, because I have young kids—they’re eight and nine now—and I’ve been going ever since they were babies,” she says. “It’s just a really nice day to spend in our city and our community.”