PORT RYERSE — Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman made their annual return to the hamlet of Port Ryerse on Halloween.
The characters, made famous in the story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, have been making an appearance in the Norfolk County community for the past 15 years.
Charlotte Elliott, who takes on the Headless Horseman role, started the tradition in 2007.
“I find it amazing just how much the community seems to just love it,” she told The Reformer on Tuesday.
And love it they do.
A large crowd of children dressed in Halloween costumes and adults gathered at the stone bridge in the hamlet to welcome their Halloween guests on Monday.
The procession included Elliott and her husband, Adam, along with Lorraine Fletcher as Ichabod Crane. Karen Smout, who was riding a horse named Yahzi, led the procession through the community.
Elliott’s horse, Freebird, also had a starring role. Fletcher used a special non-toxic paint to create a skeleton effect on the horse.
Unlike several other events that went on hiatus, the tradition has carried on throughout the pandemic due to having a set route that allowed for physical distancing, Elliott said.
“Other than giving out candy, it’s a non-contact event,” she said. “So, we felt it was safe to continue to do it during the pandemic and many people have told us how grateful they were for it gave a sense of ‘normalcy’ over those tumultuous years.”
While the goal is to entertain, in recent years it’s provided people with a chance to help those in need.
Community members Jack and Sandy Addison have organized a donation drive for the local food bank. The Addisons are also the owners of the horse Yazhi.
