NEWS RELEASE: Trick-or-Treat on Huguenot Street

NEW PALTZ, NY (October 22, 2014) – For the first time in Historic Huguenot Street history, children and families are welcome to walk the street on Halloween night, October 31, trick-or-treating at the historic houses from 4 pm to 6 pm. Free to the public, historic candy is being generously donated by Candy Candy (www.candycandyny.com) and Rite Aid of New Paltz.

Children and adults can expect to meet "residents" that span the National Historic Landmark District's centuries-long history, including colonial-era women, Revolutionary War soldiers, a Victorian-era socialite and her house maid, flappers from the Roaring Twenties, and other costumed interpreters.

A portion of Huguenot Street will be closed to vehicular traffic while children trick-or-treat. Complimentary donuts and cider, provided by Dressel Farms (www.dresselfarms.com), will be available at DuBois Fort Visitor Center at 81 Huguenot Street.

“The combination of two ancient holidays, the Celtic Samhain and the Christian All Souls Day, created what we now know as Halloween,” explains Rebecca Mackey, Director of Operations. The traditions of these early Halloween predecessors were introduced to America in the early 20th century by immigrants from the British Isles. The custom of trick-or-treating became an established part of American culture by the mid-20th century.

A National Historic Landmark District, Historic Huguenot Street is a 501(c)3 non-profit that encompasses 30 buildings across 10 acres that was the heart of the original 1678 settlement, including seven stone houses that date to the early eighteenth century.  It was founded in 1894 as the Huguenot Patriotic, Historical, and Monumental Society to preserve their French and Dutch heritage.  Since then, Historic Huguenot Street has grown into an innovative museum, chartered as an educational corporation by the University of the State of New York, that is dedicated to protecting our historic buildings, conserving an important collection of artifacts and manuscripts, and promoting the stories of the Huguenot Street families, from the sixteenth century to today. 

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Contact
Kaitlin Gallucci
Communications & Marketing Manager
(845) 255-1660
media@huguenotstreet.org