By Maria King, grandmother extraordinare and founder of Events Crazy
Well in case you didn’t get the hint from the title, this week I decided to highlight Halloween parades. I have such fond memories of parades as a child because as a girl scout, our troop had our fair share of opportunities to participate. I thought it was pretty amazing since we didn’t really have any talent. I mean we didn’t play instruments or do any kind of fancy formations or performances and if I recall correctly, we didn’t even wear costumes in the Halloween ones. Yet we were constantly invited. I was impressed that my fellow troop mates and I were such “in demand” marchers. Imagine my disappointment when years later I found out we were included out of obligation because they needed to fill the civic group category. It wasn’t our marching prowess after all so much as it was the fact that we were a group of cute, little local girls in a civic organization. Oh well, whatever the motivation for our invites, I and my fellow scouts have some wonderful memories now.
It is incredible to me the transformation in Halloween over the years. I am not sure if the younger among you realize just how much different it is now than when your parents were kids. And no, contrary to yours and my children’s belief, we did not go cave to cave yelling “Trick or treat”. Honestly, I even had one of my children suggest that all that cave yelling is the reason we see so many bats associated with Halloween! All that sarcasm aside, the change in Halloween has been dramatic and amazing over the years. If your town had a Halloween parade when I was young, that was rare. Most towns had Christmas and Memorial Day parades. Halloween was really all about candy. (not a thing wrong with that) Decorations, if you could call them that, consisted mostly of a pumpkin on your front step that some “juvenile delinquent” would eventually smash in the street in front of your house. Some people had cut-out witches made of construction paper, hanging on the front door; that was pretty much it.
Today many towns are embracing Halloween with parades, scary houses, ghost walks, zombie runs, downtown trick or treating, haunted hayrides, children’s pumpkin patches and so much more. Dramatic changes indeed. I don’t know about you, but I love it! As you can imagine any expansion of a holiday with free candy at EVERY house is ok by me.
Like the famous song says…”I love a parade”, I hope that you do as well. They are just wonderful events for children of all ages. And even though Halloween parades are not as plentiful as Memorial Day or Christmas ones, I am pretty sure that there will be one
near you this week. You can grab everyone from the grandkids to the grand parents and line the streets to see a Halloween parade. It will be a wonderful event experience that everyone can agree is really “ghouled”. I heard that.
Oct 26, 2013
Downtown Hagerstown, MD21749
Since 1925. The East Coast’s largest nighttime Halloween parade draws 10,000 participants and features floats, bands, and costumed “mummers.”
100,000 Attendees
Newark’s Halloween Parade
Oct 27, 2013
Downtown Newark Newark, DE19702
Since 1947. Lions, Tigers and Bears on Main Street – OH MY! Don’t worry-it’s all part of our Halloween Parade on Main Street. Trick or treating on Main Street begins immediately following the parade.Bring the kids for a safe alternative to trick-or-treat.
6,000 Attendees
York Halloween Parade
Oct 27, 2013
Since 1950. A great small town traditional Halloween parade and York’s largest parade featuring over 140 entries of floats, marching bands, other entertainers, balloons and costumed characters.
Halloween Parade
Oct 26, 2013
Downtown Toms River, NJ 08757
Since 1938, the state’s largest Halloween parade with over 2,500 marchers, bands and prizes. From simple masks to full blown articulated fire-breathing floats to colorful and energetic marching bands, DowntownTomsRiver has become the Halloween Capitol of the Universe! The annual Halloween Parade features thousands of participants and floats and more than 100,000 spectators.
100,000 Attendees
Bud Light Coffins on Parade
Oct 26, 2013
Downtown at Riverwalk San Antonio, TX78205
The world famous River Walk in San Antonio always alive and brimming with action is no stranger to Halloween fun! Come out and enjoy the wonderful Bud Light Coffins on Parade. You do not want to miss this famous Halloween spectacle. Imagine floating coffins in barges traveling along the San AntonioRiver! Of course this eerie parade can only be celebrated at night when all the ghosts and goblins come to life. Crowds line the banks of the river to view the coffins passing by on the world famous San Antonio River Walk and the parade is FREE to the public. The parade will make 2 laps around the River Walk, beginning at the InternationalBuilding traveling through Restaurant Row, the horseshoe bend, the River Walk Extension, Rivercenter Mall and through Arneson River Theatre. Enjoy a FREE concert by local group “The Wheels” during the parade, from 6pm-8pm at Arneson Theatre in La Villita.
Medford Halloween Parade
Oct 26, 2013
Downtown Historic Medford Village Medford, NJ08055
Since 1946. The first parade consisted of costumed marchers, a few floats, a couple of fire engines and a band. The parade has grown every year and has become one of the most cherished traditions in the community. The parade now boasts over 10 marching bands, 40 hand built floats and hundreds of costumed marchers. The parade has been a labor of love to many members of the Rotary Club over the years, some of which participated in the first. The parade is the single largest yearly undertaking by the club and serves as its biggest fundraiser. 100% of the funds raised from the parade go directly to the many community projects and scholarships sponsored by the Medford-Vincentown Rotary Club.
20,000 Attendees
Oct 26, 2013
Capitola Village Capitola, CA95010
Calling all ghosts, goblins, boys and ghouls…mark your calendars for the annual Capitola Village Children’s Halloween Parade . Line-up begins at 1:30 PM in the Pacific Cove Parking Lot above Capitola Police Department and City Hall. The parade begins promptly at 2:00 PM. Parade route will head down Capitola Avenue to the Esplanade ending at Esplanade Park where there will be refreshments.
Halloween Parade
Oct 27, 2013
Downtown Kennett Square, PA19348
Since 2006, Scarecrows, cornstalks, and pumpkins – oh my! Witches, ghosts, and a full moon up high! Downtown Kennett Square is looking to be transformed with the festive sights and activities of the Fall Season. Organizations and individuals are all welcome to participate.
Nyack Halloween Parade
Oct 26, 2013
Downtown Nyack Nyack, NY10960
Since 1988, Floats! Marching Bands! Ghouls! Goblins! Stilt Walkers! The Nyack Chamber of Commerce is proud to present Nyack’s Halloween Parade — the largest Halloween Parade outside of NYC! Spectators are expected to line the streets of Main and Broadway on this outrageous, family-friendly event. The fun starts at 3:00pm in the Main Street parking lot with music. The music continues after the parade in the Main Street parking lot, and the awarding of prizes.
20,000 Attendees
Maria can be reached directly at eventsblog@eventcrazy.com or @eventcrazy on Twitter
or visit her website at www.eventcrazy.com
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