On Saturday, October 25, approximately 500 people gathered to eat and drink, show off costumes scary and whimsical, listen to music and enjoy activities including face painting, pumpkin decorating, a dog costume contest and hear spooky tales under a sunny, blue sky and the glow of autumn leaves at the fourth annual Blackstone Square Halloween Festival. Co-sponsored by Washington Gateway Main Street (WGMS) and the Blackstone/Franklin Squares Neighborhood Association, the event reprised its popular beer garden at Stella as well as lunch fare from a variety of food trucks, while the band Country Hits and DJ Sam Milinazzo set the tone for the fun-for-all-ages event. "Country Hits played a couple of years ago as well as another band and they are always so great for this festival," WGMS executive director Jennifer Effron remarked. WGMS board member Bud Larievy and his partner, Milton Vázquez gave out candy at the information table, while Effron crisscrossed the square making sure that things were running smoothly.

The square was full of colorful characters with children and dogs alike dressed as pop-culture icons, exotic animals, princesses, skeletons and more. In the dog costume contest, this year's winner, a Chihuahua mix and Hurricane Katrina rescue named Lexy, drew inspiration from ancient Greece as Cerberus, the three-headed guard dog of Hades. Maddi, dressed as exercise maven Richard Simmons and Pippen, portraying the Ice Bucket Challenge, took second and third place respectively. Other entries included an ironically-named Morkie called Fatty who sported a Geisha costume, a Golden Retriever masquerading as a giraffe and a Yorkie dressed as an airplane. Lucky Lexy won a Key to the City specially baked by Polka Dog Bakery as well as a gift certificate from Polka Dog. K9 Strolls, a pet-supply boutique on Pembroke Street, also was on hand to judge the contest and give out treats.

For the second consecutive year, the festival offered a Haunted Cemetery Tour chronicling the history of the South End Burying Ground as well as additional macabre stories from neighborhood history.  Since the burying ground is kept locked by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, it generates curiosity among neighbors and cemetery buffs. About 15 brave souls were led into the cemetery to learn about it and explore. (Disclosure: the writer is the researcher and guide of the tour.)

Summing up the outcome of this year's festival, Effron said, "This was the fourth year of the Halloween festival and it was a huge success! We were so excited to see the neighborhood come out for a day of fun activities in the heart of the gateway district."