Dress in your creepiest creature costumes and head out to support local southern Brooklyn businesses at the 2nd annual Coney Island Creature Crawl on Oct. 14.
Coney Island USA and the Coney Island Brewery are teaming up to host their second annual crawl, which is expected to be full of Halloween-esque outfits, live entertainment from local bands, drinks and good eats as attendees visit participating bars and businesses up and down the boardwalk.
The idea behind the event was to get people together for one last outdoor celebration before the cold weather settled in, according to Adam Rinn, executive art director for Coney Island USA.
“We thought, what better way? We start the season with the Mermaid Parade and sea creatures, why not end it with another creature event,” he told Brooklyn Paper.
HONK NYC, a Coney based street band coalition, will provide the tunes for the crawl. Young Fellaz Brass Band, a New Orleans style musical group, will lead a procession from Coney Island Brewery and along the boardwalk.
Four other NYC based bands — Nice Brass, Bloco from da Block, Liftoff Brass and Batalá NY — will take the stage in a street festival style.
Sara Valentine, artistic director of HONK NYC and band organizer for the Mermaid Parade, said she intentionally selected local talent, new bands and a musical group with a style not commonly heard in the city.
“Coney Island is an amazing place for live music and parading,” she said. “I wanted to give Coney Island my best.”
Organizers are hoping the marching band will encourage attendees to stop in for a drink or bite to eat at one of the neighborhood’s beloved eateries including Tom’s, Salt & Sizzle, Paul’s Daughter, Coney Island USA’s eclectic Freak Bar and more.
According to Rinn, the partnership with the Brewery will bring people from every end of the peninsula out to enjoy an afternoon of creepy costumes and sideshows.
“We like to do things that involved the entire neighborhood,” he said. “We’re like-minded groups in the sense that we both love live entertainment. We’re both really all about the community and about the neighborhood.”
After grooving along the boardwalk, the crawl will wrap up with a live outdoor musical performance by HONK NYC and a circus presentation at Coney Island USA, located at 1208 Surf Ave.
“This event takes you to the root of what Coney Island represents to the artistic souls who are drawn to its history and energy,” Victoria Pitula, general manager for the Coney Island Brewery, said. “We celebrate creativity and community, and this is one last hoorah on the boardwalk to support seasonal businesses.”
The Coney Island Creature Crawl will take place on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 1 p.m. at 1904 Surf Ave. in Coney Island. Admission is free, RSVPs are encouraged. Visit coneyisland.com for more information.
