Pumpkins, hayrides and seaside fun filled Masone Beach as more than 500 residents gathered for the village of Island Park’s annual Halloween Beach Bash — the largest turnout the event has ever seen.
This year’s celebration brought the Halloween spirit straight to the sand, complete with a pumpkin patch, pumpkin decorating, a petting zoo, face painting and hayrides. For the first time, the event also featured a partnership with the Island Park Library for a community Trunk or Treat, a Halloween event where children get treats from decorated car trunks.
Island Park Mayor Michael McGinty praised the event, noting its importance to the village’s identity.
“As a coastal community, the beach is the heart of our celebrations, and we love bringing the spirit of Halloween right to the shore,” McGinty said. “It’s a fun way for everyone to enjoy the season while celebrating the unique charm of our beachside home.”
The collaboration between the village and the Library was a highlight of the day, helping create a more expansive, family-centered celebration. Trustee Barbara Volpe-Reid, who also serves as Commissioner of Beach and Recreation, said the partnership reflected Island Park’s enduring community spirit.
“Since our founding almost 100 years ago, we’ve been a community of doers, and gatherings like this remind us why that spirit matters,” Volpe-Reid said. “Events like this strengthen the sense of community that makes our village so special.”
Volpe-Reid credited the success to teamwork across the village, from the Department of Public Works to her fellow board members.
“We have a great DPW staff who work tirelessly to ensure that all festivities are set up and work smoothly,” Volpe-Reid said. “In addition, my colleagues on the Village Board work with me to help make this event possible. We are all really a hands-on board and a hands-on village staff. We are really very fortunate.”
Each year, those involved look for ways to make the event more special, such as adding new activities, improving what is already available and keeping the spirit of Halloween alive at the beach.
“We come with the notion that we, as neighbors and community members, aren’t just friends, we’re family,” McGinty said.
Between the holiday’s activities and those in attendance, Island Park’s Halloween Beach Bash captured the unity that defines this seaside community.
