Uptown Games Brings Halloween Track & Treats

The 2021 Uptown Games delivered track and treats!

Over 300 children ages 6-14 came together at The Armory on Sunday for the Uptown Games, an opportunity to partake in friendly competition, engage with the community, and have fun!

The event fell on Halloween this year and was themed accordingly. Children from surrounding neighborhoods entered the arena dressed for the occasion in what proved to be nothing short of a remarkable array of costumes. (Don’t just take our word for it; look through photos from the day, included here!)

Festivities began with children getting fitted for and receiving New Balance shoes and socks, then heading to the track for a dancing warmup. Feeding off of that energy, participants dove into a series of events (55m Dash/Hurdles, 200m Dash, Long Jump, and Shot Put) led by true track and field officials. While our CityTrack & Little Feet after school program participants were well-represented, this was some attendees' first experience running, jumping, and throwing at The Armory.

In addition to the athletic stations, children rotated through the Magical McKinsey Toy Store, the KPMG Book Nook, and a festively decorated photo booth.

Following the last rotation, participants crossed the street to NewYork-Presbyterian & Columbia’s Haven Plaza, where they were greeted by trick-or-treating stations and our friends in the healthcare field.

A unique component of this year’s Uptown Games was that The Armory arranged for a Covid-19 vaccination bus to be parked outside of the building. The hope was to increase vaccination accessibility and visibility for community members.