HALLOWEEN EVENTS CATER TO YOUNG AND OLD

Halloween in New Orleans has two components: the early hours of the holiday, which center around children and their families, and the nighttime hours for the adults. One neighborhood association catered to both audiences with two events.

The Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association turned Fortier Park on Esplanade Avenue into one giant Halloween block party for the younger set. A group of FSJNA members who call themselves the Pirates of Fortier Park created "Bounty on the Bayou."

"The residents along Grand Route St. John wanted to create a family-friendly safe zone for all kids to gather and enjoy Halloween," explained Linda Lanesberg, the group's spokeswoman. "So we created 'Bounty on the Bayou' last year."

The all-volunteer neighborhood crew pulled out all the stops with Halloween decorations, a DJ spinning tunes, a popcorn vendor and plenty of tricks and treats.

The event has grown, and is attractive to parents of young children. The New Orleans Police Department set up barricades along the park's boundaries and, with no vehicular traffic, the children were free to run and play. Most of the families I met lived in the area, but there were a few who learned about the party from friends living in the neighborhood.

"Bounty on the Bayou" was three hours of safe fun for area children, and I saw some of the night's best costumes there. Later Halloween night, FSJNA's major fundraising event, Voodoo on the Bayou, took center stage at the historic Pitot House.

For more information on FSJNA's events or to become a member of the neighborhood association, visit fsjna.org.

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Scene and be Seen is a weekly peek into the vibrant and diverse New Orleans culture. Please e-mail information about your event to robertagrove@hotmail.com.