Still time to register for the Northern Lehigh Parade

For 108 years the Halloween Parade in Slatington has been entertaining generations of children and adults.

For many years at the turn of the 20th century teenagers and young men preformed mischief and mayhem on Halloween which damaged homes and farms.

In 1907, a group of young men hoping to curtail the pranks of local children, formed a group who dressed like Indians and marched down Main Street preforming the Indian War Dance.

Their idea worked as children followed the men down Main Street, the mischief ended and the Slatington Halloween Parade was born.

The parade continued to grow and prosper.

In 1938, thousands of marchers participated in a five division parade, as a crowd estimated at 10,000 watched.

It was deemed the largest Halloween Parade ever in Slatington and to date, the Slatington Halloween Parade is one of the longest running parades in the Nation.

Through the years, the parade gradually incorporated bands and floats from the surrounding area as well as all over the Lehigh Valley, and was generally considered one of the nicest parades in the region.

In the beginning of the summer, no one in the area knew if or when there was going to be a Halloween parade that normally runs from the top of Slatington and over the bridge into Walnutport.

Now under the new direction of Northern Lehigh Events Committee Chairman Russ Hallman the parade is off to a fantastic start.

Word of mouth spread quickly through the towns and a few members of the community have gotten together a handful of times at the Slatington Vigilant Fire Company to come up with ideas to make the parade great once again.

They now have a lot of new people helping out, fresh ideas and events that are coming up that the community is invited to.

Just this passed weekend, the N.L. Events Committee held a basket raffle that earned more than $3,300 towards the parade.

Also, the Committee came up with great prize ideas for those who are in the parade.

Want to walk the parade with your dog, a pig, a cow or any pet that you may have? Then come to the parade and do just that.

If you and your pet want to dress up you and have the chance of winning up to $100 for either the funniest or scariest costume, details will be their website.

Also, do you have a scout group? A cool float? A neat band? Or are you on a dance team and always wanted to be a in parade? Come up and perform!

The theme for the 2015 Halloween parade is Wild, Wild West.

The next meeting which is open to the public will be 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8 in the lower lever of the Vigilant Fire Co in Slatington.

There will be a pumpkin decorating contest at The Gathering, which is located in Slatington from 1-5 p.m.

One winner will be selected from two separate age categories; ages 3-5 and 6-8.

Winners will be judged at approximately 5 p.m. and announced at that time.

Winners do not have to be present!

If you win the pumpkin decorating contest you have the chance to be the Grand Marshal in the parade.

The Halloween Parade will start at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Rain date is 6:30 p.m. Nov. 1.

Check out their new facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NorthernLehighEvents.

Want to be in the parade or just help out, contact Russ Hallman at 610-767-7667 or go to www.northernlehighevents.com for more information.