Halfmoon parade offers sweet entertainment

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Goot

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Apparently, children can never have too much candy.

Even though Halloween was just a mere two weeks ago, kids still eagerly scooped up the treats tossed from floats during the seventh annual Halfmoon Holiday Parade on Sunday.

Gayle Fountain, of Halfmoon, and her granddaughter, Claudia Fountain, 10, and Claudia’s friend Caitlin Briell were having a picnic — complete with blanket and picnic basket — as they watched the parade pass.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” said Claudia, who lives in Waterford.

When asked what she wanted for Christmas, she said she wanted a Kindle electronic reader and then abruptly stopped talking as she went to collect more goodies.

“The interview gets trumped by candy,” Gayle Fountain said.

The Malagisi family of Halfmoon was using a blanket as a candy collector.

“We just got rid of the Halloween candy, and now we we’ve got to eat this,” said mother Bridget Malagisi.

Daughter Samantha Malagisi, 7, had a system. She was putting one kind of candy in her pocket and the rest on the blanket. She’s hoping to get an iPod for Christmas this year.

Apparently, a love of music runs in the family because her 4-year-old sister, Abby, said she wanted a guitar.

Meanwhile, brother Jackson, 7, said he was “running up the middle” to get the remaining candy.

The parade, which started on Independence Boulevard in the Knoxwoods development and ended at the Town Hall complex, featured 35 floats including representatives of local businesses. Adirondack Basement Systems of Halfmoon had a “Santa’s Workshop” scene.

Nikayla Geraghty, 11, of Niskayuna, was wearing a shirt saying “The Grinch Has My Presents.” Hopefully, that doesn’t come true. She said she wants makeup and a Nintendo 3DS for Christmas.

Sasha and Katerina Hoffman, both 6, were riding as part of the Mother Teresa Academy private school float. Both said they are hoping to get a scooter for Christmas.

“It makes Santa’s job very easy,” said their mother, Teresa Hoffman of Clifton Park.

Residents of the Knoxwoods development had a front-row seat for the parade.

Phyllis Koblich was walking her dog Gizmo and stopped to watch. “It gets you started on the season,” she said. She added that she had not started her Christmas shopping yet.

Gizmo jumped up on his hind legs when other dogs passed by in the parade.

“It’s a good thing you brought Gizmo,” said Halfmoon resident Arlene McKenna. “He’s seeing all his friends, too.”

McKenna said she was waiting for Santa Claus, and he made his appearance in his rightful place in the final car of the parade.

“Ho ho ho!” Santa said as the song “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” blared from a loudspeaker.

This is the first holiday parade of the season. Other celebrations happening this week include the Johnstown Holiday Parade on Friday at 7 p.m. on Main Street and the Schenectady Holiday Parade on Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. at Schenectady County Community College.