More than 500 children and families gathered at Pope John Paul II Park in Neponset on Oct. 26 for the annual Halloween Pumpkin Parade, formerly the Pumpkin Float, for a night of music, games, costumes, and – of course – candy by the handful.

The event had been cancelled due to the pandemic for a couple of years but returned last year with good results. This year the feeling was one of celebration and hundreds returned at pre-pandemic levels – to the delight of organizers like the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the Neponset Greenway Council, and the Neponset River Watershed Association.

After enjoying cider, games, and a photo booth, children in costume marched around the park’s trail and hit up several candy stations as they went.

Lead organizer Maria Lyons, of the Greenway Council and Port Norfolk, said participants trickled in, but by 6 p.m. they had more than 500 people in the park.

The event is one of the major highlights of the Halloween season in Dorchester.

State Rep. Dan Hunt and his son, Daniel, age 3, enjoyed the Pumpkin Parade on Thursday night.

Ichabod Crane eat your heart out. This DCR Ranger and horse made a great showing of the famed Headless Horseman.

Catherine and Emma Le enjoy posing as a mummy and a wizard.

Members of the Neponset River Greenway Council, and organizers of the Pumpkin Parade, pose for a photo before the event.

Israel Putnam might be dressed as Spiderman, but he’s named after the Continental Army’s hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Little pumpkin Noah Jacobs dances to the Halloween music played by DJ DCR.

Ayla Kenney, as a vampire, poses in front of the pumpkin patch.

The best penguin of the day was Yuvaan Shukla.

Julia Lyons leads the way on the Pumpkin Parade once again this year, with hundreds of costumed kids following behind.

Penelope Roberts, dressed as Batgirl, gets some help choosing stickers from her dad, Brian Roberts, dressed as Superman.

Owen Arroyo, Malik DaSilva, and Major DaSilva couldn’t wait for the Pumpkin Parade.