Minions, Oogie Boogie Parade Home With Best Halloween Costume Honors In Newtown

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA - This year’s Newtown Halloween Parade had it all, from the funny to the scary side of the season, as several hundred parents and kids took the annual Halloween Walk through town Saturday morning.

Everyone was there, from firefighters to a coven of witches. An octopus crawled out of the sea for the parade. And a family of astronauts and space aliens (the Rutkowski's) landed in the parking lot of the Stocking Works just in time for the Halloween walk.

Standing out from the crowd were several slinky dogs from Toy Story, superheroes from the Incredibles, several pirates, Spider-Man, and a Dalmatian and fire truck.

Dressed in costume, the members of the Council Rock High School North Marching Band set the tone for the event, playing the theme from “Ghostbusters” as they led a parade of costumed children, adults, pets, and families on a walk through town, from the Stocking Works to Brian Gregg Park.

Along the way, State Street shop owners, customers, and residents watched as Halloween passed by, many marveling at the creativity that is always a part of this hometown parade.

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Mayor Tara Grunde-McLaughlin, right, presents The Minions with this year's Mayor's Trophy. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Newman family won first place in the book/TV category for their depiction of "Nightmare Before Christmas." (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Osecki family won first place for their "Toy Story" theme. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Winning first place for best homemade costume were Josh and Louise of Penndel. They came dressed as King Dice from the 1930s-themed video game, Cuphead. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Pologruto family won first for show pigs. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

And sending some serious Halloween chills through this year's Halloween gathering was Andrew McNamara, who took first place in Halloween horror. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

At Brian Gregg Memorial Park the band performed more favorites, including their signature song, “Louie, Louie.”

Following the performance, Newtown Borough Recreation Board members announced this year's costume contest winners.

The Neuman Family won first place in the books and movies category for its depiction of “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Their homemade Oogie Boogie costume, which towered over the parade route, had heads turning all along the street.

But it was a family of Minions that took this year’s top prize - the Mayor’s Trophy. Members of the Lambert-Ryan and de Barra families of Newtown teamed up to depict "the Minions Meet Hamilton."

Mike and Diane Boland and family won first in the group category for Toy Story. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Nicole Toto and Tiger Vogel as octopi won first place for cutest couple.

Baa Baa Black Sheep 3 Bags Full of Delivery won first place for best float.

Landing in the parking lot of the Stocking Works just in time for the Halloween Parade is the Rutkowski family portraying two astronauts and a space alien. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Council Rock High School North Marching Band provided the marching music. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Photo by Jeff Werner)

This year's judges. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Winning first place for best homemade costume were Josh and Louise of Penndel. They came dressed as King Dice from the 1930s-themed video game, Cuphead.

The Osecki family won first place in the family fun and pets category for Toy Story. And in the group category, Mike and Diane Boland and family won first, also for Toy Story.

Sending some serious Halloween chills through this year's Halloween gathering was Andrew McNamara, who took first place in Halloween horror. He was Demogurgon, a predatory, humanoid monster from the parallel dimension known as the Upside Down in the Netflix series “Stranger Things.”

Other winners included the Pologruto family for show pigs, first place in Halloween humor; Nicole Toto and Tiger Vogel as octopi, first place for cutest couple; and Frankie Bolinger with Baa Baa Black Sheep 3 Bags Full of Delivery, first for best float.

The Newtown Borough Recreation Board organized the parade and provided the ribbons.

A new addition this year included a Children's Fall Fest, which followed the parade.

Organized by the Newtown Rotary Club, the fall fest included a performance by Yoyo, free balloon creations, a spider pipe cleaner craft, a display table by the Churchville Nature Center and paint-your-own Gold Pumpkin craft.

Yoyo performs as part of Newtown Rotary's first-ever Children's Fall Fest, which followed the parade at Brian Gregg Park. (Jeff Werner/Patch)