Qu Yiwen held a Halloween family fun day and the children’s costume contest was eye-catching

On October 26th, State Senator Iwen Chu hosted a “Halloween Family Fun Day” at Seth Low Park in Bensonhurst, partnering with 11 local community organizations and businesses from Brooklyn’s southern district. The event aimed to bring the community together under the warm autumn sun, allowing residents to enjoy Halloween festivities. Highlights included the distribution of candy and pumpkins, an instant photo booth, and a children’s costume contest, which drew over 200 participants from various ethnic backgrounds.

Halloween is a cherished American tradition, especially among children, including those in the Chinese community. In her speech, Senator Chu emphasized that Halloween not only creates wonderful memories for children but also serves as an excellent opportunity to foster community bonds, encourage dialogue among diverse ethnic groups, and promote inclusiveness while breaking down barriers and prejudices.

This year’s standout feature was the children’s costume contest, with more than 20 kids participating. The young contestants took turns showcasing their costumes in groups of four, striking various poses for the judges. After careful consideration, the panel selected the top five winners. The first prize went to a Chinese boy named Ansen, who creatively affixed a picture of his sister to his protruding belly, sporting a sign that read, “I ate my sister.” His imaginative outfit earned him high praise from the judges, along with a scooter as the prize.

Throughout the “Halloween Family Fun Day,” 250 pumpkins and a significant amount of candy were handed out. Various booths were set up for families to have themed Halloween photos taken on the spot, with printed copies provided as keepsakes. The event also featured face painting, dancing, and arts and crafts activities, all of which were well-received by attendees.

According to Senator Chu’s Chief of Staff, Yi Zhang, this marks the second consecutive year that Senator Chu’s office has organized the “Halloween Family Fun Day.” Due to positive feedback from last year’s event, this year’s activities were even more diverse, drawing a larger crowd of participants.

The children’s costume contest was hosted by Ming-Hsien Deng, President of the Chinese American Community Services, with judges including Wei-Ji Chen, President and CEO of Pine Tree Senior Living, Yi Zhang, Li Zhibo of the Bay Parkway Chamber of Commerce, and Sonia Valentin, chair of the community committee at 62nd Precinct of the NYC Police Department. Organizations such as the New York Chinese Coalition and the Huaxing Multicultural Center provided participants with an array of valuable gifts and community resource information.