Participants in the Norwich Family YMCA Halloween Parade held on Saturday, October 30. Participants were judged on their costumes and floats, and winners were given prizes after the parade at the awards ceremony in West Park. (Photos by Sarah Genter)

NORWICH — The Norwich Family YMCA held their long-running Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 30. After a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the parade was back and better than ever, with large participation from local businesses, organizations, and families.

The Y also had their costume and float contests, and held the awards ceremony after the parade in West Park. The winners of all costume and parade contest categories are as follows:

Funniest Costume:

Graeme Mickle, Stay Puff

Kendrick Darragh Oles, Peter Pan

Most Original:

Quinn Terry, Col. Sanders

Oliver Leac, NASA Rocket

Spookiest:

Jake Hamilton, Predator

Mike Hamilton, Alien

Cutest Costume:

William Tittle, Little Lamb

Cole Alger, Pirate #121

Judges Award:

Adeline Tittle, Little Bo Peep

Emilee Northrup, Star Trek

Non School Float Awards:

3rd: Friends of North Park

2nd: Darragh Oles Family

1st: The Brown Family Pirate Float

Family Costume Award:

3rd: The Ryan Family

2nd: The "Pokemon" family

1st: The Prophet family and The Shrek Float

The School Float Award:

3rd: Perry Browne

2nd: Holy Family

1st: Stanford Gibson

The Business Float Award:

3rd: Trojan House Deli

2nd: Progressive Dental

1st: Norwich Rehabilitation

The Norwich Family YMCA also awarded several door prizes to attendees. The prizes were generously donated by NBT Bank, The George and Elisabeth Mead Foundation, the Ryan Family, the Barkley Family, Park Place Sports Bar and Grill, and Nina's Pizzeria.