Halloween isn’t just for the children at New Hope’s festivities
Rediscover the spirit of Halloween this year in downtown New Hope.
Halloween Festival 2009, hosted by the New Hope Chamber of Commerce, gives residents a chance to revel in one of the area’s most historically treasured times, according Carol Della Penna, publicist for the chamber.
“New Hope and Halloween have always gone together,” she said. “The chamber is hoping to bring back what everyone remembers New Hope to be at this time of the year.”
The aesthetic value of New Hope adds to the fun, Della Penna noted.
“Our area is so ideal for anything autumn,” she said. “It’s perfectly picturesque.” The events, posted at www.newhopehalloween.com, offer something for everyone — contests and crafts for the children and nights of mischievous fun for adults. In the “Witches, Wenches and Vixens Pub Crawl,” held Oct. 24, partygoers visit participating New Hope restaurants and bars from 8 to 11 p.m. to entertain patrons and solicit donations for the chamber’s scholarship fund.
“It’s kitschy,” said Della Penna. “These women are dressed up and able to make the rounds and solicit patrons for money for a good cause.”
The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Stephan House on Bridge Street with hors d’oeuvres and goodies by Marsha Brown Creole Kitchen and a “spirited” witch’s brew. A fireside drum circle under the direction of Conrad Kubiak, owner of Spirit in the Woods and master drum maker, will begin at 7 p.m.
Admission to the event is $30. Costume prizes will be awarded at the end of the night to the best-dressed witch, wench and vixen, plus the person who collects the most donations for the scholarship fund.
A full list of participating businesses is posted on the festival Web site.
On Oct. 30, residents and visitors can jump into the “Time Warp Masquerade” — a party and live showing of the cult classic, “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
“I lived in Manhattan for 14 years and [Greenwich] Village was huge for Halloween; there was always a production of ‘Rocky Horror,’” said Della Penna. “It’s so cool that we have a live performance right here where we can get dressed up and have a lot of fun with it.”
The party, which includes hors d’oeuvres and a harvest buffet sponsored by Jamie Hollander Catering, will feature a guest appearance from New Hope’s “Miss Pumpkin” and “The Queen of Halloween,” said the publicist.
At 11:30 p.m., partygoers will parade down Main Street to the Bucks County Playhouse for a midnight showing. Prizes will be awarded for best portrayal of a Rocky Horror character, plus scariest, sexiest, funniest and most creative costumes.
On Halloween, the whole family is invited to the free Halloween Street Fair on Mechanic Street.
Trick-or-treating will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. at the shops in downtown New Hope. Free trick-or-treat bags will be available at the New Hope Visitors Center.
Prizes will be awarded for the best-decorated shops and best employee costume in the downtown area, as well as for the best-dressed pet, best costume for kids under 12 and best costume for adults 12 and older.
A pumpkin pie eating contest, “pumpkin bowling,” a pumpkin toss, a pumpkin carving contest, a “candy corn catch” and face painting will take place throughout the day.
At 6:30 p.m., the 10th annual “Drag Race,” sponsored by Tear Drop Memories, will begin.
“It’s men dressed up in drag-type attire, wearing high heels and carrying 15-pound pumpkins in a race up Mechanic Street,” said Della Penna. “It’s always something to see.”
Contestants must bring their own heels, she added.
For more information on the Halloween Festival or to order tickets, call the chamber office at 215-862-9990 or visit www.NewHopeHalloween.com.
The New Hope Chamber of Commerce is organized to promote the economic, civil, commercial, cultural, artistic, historical and educational interests of the area.
The chamber hosts several events throughout the year, including Restaurant Week, the Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival, the Fire and Ice Ball in February and more, said Della Penna.
Each month this year, one lucky person shopping the downtown area was given a golden ticket as part of the chamber’s “Second Saturdays” event, she added. During the chamber’s tree lighting ceremony Nov. 29, a ticket will be drawn and that person will receive one year of free parking in Union Square.
For more information on the New Hope Chamber of Commerce and its events, visit www.newhopechamber.com or call 215-862-9990.
Halloween Festival 2009, hosted by the New Hope Chamber of Commerce, gives residents a chance to revel in one of the area’s most historically treasured times, according Carol Della Penna, publicist for the chamber.
“New Hope and Halloween have always gone together,” she said. “The chamber is hoping to bring back what everyone remembers New Hope to be at this time of the year.”
The aesthetic value of New Hope adds to the fun, Della Penna noted.
“Our area is so ideal for anything autumn,” she said. “It’s perfectly picturesque.” The events, posted at www.newhopehalloween.com, offer something for everyone — contests and crafts for the children and nights of mischievous fun for adults. In the “Witches, Wenches and Vixens Pub Crawl,” held Oct. 24, partygoers visit participating New Hope restaurants and bars from 8 to 11 p.m. to entertain patrons and solicit donations for the chamber’s scholarship fund.
“It’s kitschy,” said Della Penna. “These women are dressed up and able to make the rounds and solicit patrons for money for a good cause.”
The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Stephan House on Bridge Street with hors d’oeuvres and goodies by Marsha Brown Creole Kitchen and a “spirited” witch’s brew. A fireside drum circle under the direction of Conrad Kubiak, owner of Spirit in the Woods and master drum maker, will begin at 7 p.m.
Admission to the event is $30. Costume prizes will be awarded at the end of the night to the best-dressed witch, wench and vixen, plus the person who collects the most donations for the scholarship fund.
A full list of participating businesses is posted on the festival Web site.
On Oct. 30, residents and visitors can jump into the “Time Warp Masquerade” — a party and live showing of the cult classic, “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
“I lived in Manhattan for 14 years and [Greenwich] Village was huge for Halloween; there was always a production of ‘Rocky Horror,’” said Della Penna. “It’s so cool that we have a live performance right here where we can get dressed up and have a lot of fun with it.”
The party, which includes hors d’oeuvres and a harvest buffet sponsored by Jamie Hollander Catering, will feature a guest appearance from New Hope’s “Miss Pumpkin” and “The Queen of Halloween,” said the publicist.
At 11:30 p.m., partygoers will parade down Main Street to the Bucks County Playhouse for a midnight showing. Prizes will be awarded for best portrayal of a Rocky Horror character, plus scariest, sexiest, funniest and most creative costumes.
On Halloween, the whole family is invited to the free Halloween Street Fair on Mechanic Street.
Trick-or-treating will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. at the shops in downtown New Hope. Free trick-or-treat bags will be available at the New Hope Visitors Center.
Prizes will be awarded for the best-decorated shops and best employee costume in the downtown area, as well as for the best-dressed pet, best costume for kids under 12 and best costume for adults 12 and older.
A pumpkin pie eating contest, “pumpkin bowling,” a pumpkin toss, a pumpkin carving contest, a “candy corn catch” and face painting will take place throughout the day.
At 6:30 p.m., the 10th annual “Drag Race,” sponsored by Tear Drop Memories, will begin.
“It’s men dressed up in drag-type attire, wearing high heels and carrying 15-pound pumpkins in a race up Mechanic Street,” said Della Penna. “It’s always something to see.”
Contestants must bring their own heels, she added.
For more information on the Halloween Festival or to order tickets, call the chamber office at 215-862-9990 or visit www.NewHopeHalloween.com.
The New Hope Chamber of Commerce is organized to promote the economic, civil, commercial, cultural, artistic, historical and educational interests of the area.
The chamber hosts several events throughout the year, including Restaurant Week, the Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival, the Fire and Ice Ball in February and more, said Della Penna.
Each month this year, one lucky person shopping the downtown area was given a golden ticket as part of the chamber’s “Second Saturdays” event, she added. During the chamber’s tree lighting ceremony Nov. 29, a ticket will be drawn and that person will receive one year of free parking in Union Square.
For more information on the New Hope Chamber of Commerce and its events, visit www.newhopechamber.com or call 215-862-9990.
