NORWALK, CT — Customers who visit Stew Leonard’s in Norwalk during the month of October can enjoy a wide array of spooky fun Halloween-themed activities for the whole family, including a costume party and the store’s first-ever character parade.
Most customers who have shopped at “the world’s largest dairy store” are familiar with their costumed characters, most notably “Wow the Cow,” who walk around the store and greet families with young children.
According to Stew Leonard’s spokesperson Meghan Bell, the idea for a character parade involving the store’s costumed mascots came from the third generation of the Leonard family.
“Many have small children who enjoyed similar parades at amusement parks this past summer,” Bell said to Patch, “and so we started brainstorming. We wanted to create an event that featured the things our smallest shoppers love the most.”
The character parade will start in the recently updated farmer’s market area of the Norwalk store and follow a route to the outdoor pumpkin patch.
“Families who attend the parade will enjoy music, face painting and, of course, an up-close meet and greet with Stew Leonard’s legendary costumed characters, including Wow the Cow,” Bell said.
The idea to incorporate costumed characters, as well as animatronic milk cartons and other robotic characters, into the Stew Leonard’s shopping experience dates back to the 1970’s when store founder Stew Leonard Sr. returned home from trips to Las Vegas and the Walt Disney World resort in Florida.
These unique touches, as well as offering fun seasonal activities at the store for customers during Halloween and the holiday season, are part of the store’s DNA, according to Bell.
“When Stew Sr. opened Stew Leonard’s in 1969, he built the store so that children could watch milk being bottled while parents shopped,” Bell said. “At the heart of everything we do at Stew Leonard’s is our wish to create happy customers. Offering family-friendly events is a great way to give back to the community and create happy moments for the families that shop with us.”
Among the list of upcoming events to be held at the store in October, Bell said the Norwalk team was most excited for a “Spooky Supper-Halloween Costume Party” scheduled for Oct. 25.
“It’s a new event this year and we’re hoping for a great turnout,” Bell said. “A buffet dinner will be served, kids can wear their costumes and we’ll have a dance party with our costumed characters.”
One popular event that will not be returning to the Norwalk store this year is the Halloween hayride, a traditional tractor-pulled ride that took customers past various spooky displays set up in the store’s parking garage.
A decades-long tradition, Bell said the store stopped offering the hayride in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are not offering it this year,” Bell said, “but the Leonard family is considering bringing it back in the future.”
In addition to Norwalk, the family-owned business currently operates stores in seven other locations, including two more Connecticut stores in Danbury and Newington, as well as New York and New Jersey stores.
The following list of Halloween happenings at Stew Leonard’s, located at 100 Westport Avenue in Norwalk, was provided by the store:
Mummy Pizza Making Class
Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Ages 2-5
$20 per child
“We’ll make Halloween pizzas that look like a mummy using mozzarella, pepperoni, and olives! As Stew’s chefs cook the pizzas, kids will play games and make a Halloween-themed craft. A parent or caretaker is asked to accompany their child to this class.”
Vampire Pizza Class
Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, from 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Ages 6 to 10
$20 per child
“We’ll make Halloween pizzas that look like a vampire using mozzarella, pepperoni, and olives! As Stew’s chefs cook the pizzas, kids will play games and make a Halloween-themed craft. A parent or caretaker is asked to accompany their child to this class.”
Halloween Cupcakes Class
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Ages 6 – 10
$20 per child
“In today’s class, kids will make four Halloween-inspired cupcakes to take home with them. Children will also enjoy a cup of our delicious ice cream. A parent or caretaker is asked to accompany their child to this class.”
Halloween Cupcakes Class
Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, from 11 a.m. – noon
Ages 2 to 5
$20 per child
“In today’s class, kids will make two mummy-inspired cupcakes and two jack-o’-lantern-inspired cupcakes to take home with them. Children will also enjoy a cup of our delicious ice cream. A parent or caretaker is asked to accompany their child to this class.”
Pumpkin Palooza
Oct. 12 – Oct. 14, 2024
11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
“Stew’s Garden Shop is bursting with local pumpkins! Those who purchase a pumpkin at Stew’s in Norwalk on October 12, 13 or 14 between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. are invited to a complimentary pumpkin painting event outdoors under the Garden Shop’s tent. No advance registration is necessary.”
Halloween Dirt Cup Class
Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, from 11 a.m. – noon
Ages 2 to 5
$20 per child
“Let’s make a cup of dirt using pudding, gummy worms, and cookies! A parent or caretaker is asked to accompany their child to this class.”
Halloween Dirt Cup Class
Wednesday, October 16, 2024, from 4:00 – 5 p.m.
Ages 6 to 10
$20 per child
“Let’s make a cup of dirt using pudding, gummy worms, and cookies! A parent or caretaker is asked to accompany their child to this class.”
Trick or Treat with Stew Leonard’s Characters
Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024
Ages 8 and younger
“Children ages 8 and younger are invited to dress in their costumes and come to Stew Leonard’s in Norwalk to go trick-or-treating. Bags will be provided to children to collect their candy as they visit trick-or-treating stations throughout the store. Stew Leonard’s famous characters, including mascot Wow the Cow, will be available for taking photos with the children.”
Spooky Supper-Halloween Costume Party
Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Adults and children ages 12 and over are $22.99 each; children ages 11 and younger are $18.99 each
“Join the team at Stew Leonard’s in Norwalk for a Spooktacular Costume Party hosted by our costumed characters! Stew Leonard’s culinary team will offer a buffet-style dinner including chicken fries, quesadillas, and pizza. We will have a spooky dance floor for everyone to show off their best dance moves with our costumed characters! Each child will receive a Halloween goodie bag to take home at the end of the event. Limited spots are available.”
Halloween Day, Oct. 31, 2024
“All kids under age 12 who wear their Halloween costume to Stew Leonard’s on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, will receive a free small ice cream cone at our Ice Cream Parlor.”
Customers can register for all paid events, as well as the free trick-or-treating event here or at eventbrite.com (search for Stew Leonard’s in Norwalk).
More information is available at www.stewleonards.com.
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