Hallowe’en Costume Parade, 1949

Children’s thoughts are undoubtedly turning to the potential haul of candy that October 31st will bring. The children in the photo above are celebrating Hallowe’en with a costume parade in 1949. This holiday has long been a combination of good-natured fun and occasional rowdiness, as reported in 1893 by the Daily British Whig:

Hallowe’en appears to have been one of the quietest in the city’s history. Few evidences of damage to property were evident. One of Crother’s biscuit wagons was hung on one of the posts at the market. Rideau street looks dilapidated; gates, sidewalks, shutters and fences have been torn up.