Annual Jim Thorpe Halloween Parade is today

The 25th Annual Jim Thorpe Halloween Parade will step off at 2 p.m. today on the east side of the community, where Henry Desrosiers, Carbon County’s Director of Veterans Affairs for the past 11 3/4 years, will be the grand marshal.

The Jim Thorpe Lions Club, sponsor of the event, announced parade information this week. The parade will start forming at 1 p.m. and will begin promptly an hour later, proceeding from the Jim Thorpe Area High School complex, traveling on Center Street to Ninth Street, proceeding onto North Street and continuing until disbanding at Third and Center streets.

Because of the route, Route 903 traffic will be detoured from 1:45 until the parade passes Fifth Street. The detour will be from Fifth to 10th streets, passing the Evergreen and St. Joseph cemeteries.

As in the past, members of the sponsoring Lions Club will have donation buckets in the parade lineup to accept donations toward future parades.

Parade transportation for participants will be provided on Third Street to take them back to Memorial Park, where hot dogs and soft drinks will be provided.

Judging will take place in the best float, best group and most original categories. First and second place winners in each category will be announced at the park after the parade.

In all, 330 people are expected to make up the lineup, with 68 vehicles and five floats.

The parade lineup will be as follows:

Division 1

Form in driveway in front of high school: Jim Thorpe Police Department, Jim Thorpe Community Watch, Jim Thorpe Mayor Michael Sofranko, Grand Marshal Henry Desrosiers, Carbon County Director of Veterans Affairs, Jim Thorpe Lions Club, Jim Thorpe Fire Department, Tyler Strong/Donate Life, California Raisin Vehicle, Carbon County Democratic Party, Carbon County Lions/Lioness Fair Queen, Rep. Doyle Heffley, Jim Thorpe Area High School Band and Carbon County Republican Party.

Division 2

Form in first parking lot in front of high school: Carbon County Sheriff Tony Harvilla, Sgt. Brian Hawk, driver, Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, Commissioner Tom Gerhard, Hawk Mountain Highlanders, Cub Pack 138 “Racing Into Scouting,” Lehighton Ambulance, C-4 Chris Lukasevich for Commissioner, Mason’s Cold Beer, Art Guth “Chills and Thrills” and Mauch Chunk Motorheads.

Division 3

Form in large parking lot, line up along residential property line: Penn Forest Fire Company, Tyra Boni for Clerk of Courts, All Points Towing, Bob Schaninger for Borough Council, Forks of the Delaware Tin Lizzies, Committee to Elect Kayla Semmel, Prothonotary, Kory Rabenold “Mr. Pickles Presents His Sinister Circus” and “Mr. Pickles Returns,” Greek for DA, Girl Scout Troop 30470, “Blast from the Past,” Donna Gentile for Recorder of Deeds, KME Vehicle, Committee to Elect Mark Sverchek, Controller, Juke Box Cruisers Car Club and Santa and Elk (Bob and Mary Eulo).