‘225’: Local Halloween parade does more than scare

This time last year, a float depicting a creepy version of Alice in Wonderland paraded through downtown Baton Rouge, along with one inspired by Poltergeist, with krewe members dressed as quotable character Carol Anne. Five thousand spectators watched these and about 20 other floats march behind a fitting grand marshal, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum’s Ptolemaic period mummy—or at least his likeness—who led the zombies, vampires and other creatures from the backseat of a vintage red convertible. Baton Rouge’s first-ever Halloween Parade was a big success and a draw for both families and singles, says Kelley Criscoe Stein, founding president of the 10/31 Consortium—the two-year-old local nonprofit organization that hosts the event. “It was a very good showing,” says Criscoe. “We had met with organizers of the Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade, which didn’t have that many when they first began. When we look at how big they’ve gotten, we expect to really grow.” Indeed, the 10/31 Consortium seems to have tapped into a cultural sweet spot that fuses the region’s love for parades with Baton Rouge’s growing identity as a Halloween destination. This year’s parade rolls on Saturday, Oct. 27. Former Gov. Edwin Edwards is the grand marshal. Get all the details in the full story by Maggie Heyn Richardson in the current issue of 225 here.