Floats delight Palmerton parade goers

A local Girl Scout troop went to far-reaching depths to capture one of the biggest honors Sunday during the annual Palmerton Halloween parade.

Girl Scout Troop 3506 won the judges’ choice overall outstanding large float honor with its “Party Under The Sea” theme.

The float, which Scouts dressed up as jellyfish, was one of nine large floats in the four-division parade.

Under sun-soaked skies, Palmerton residents turned out en masse to watch as not only Girl Scouts, but also cheerleaders, booster club football players, dance and tumble groups, and other civic and non-profit organizations showed off their decorating and costume-making strengths, all while showering children along the route with plenty of candy.

Judges’ choice outstanding Palmerton Sports Group large floats went to the Palmerton Booster Club flag cheering squad with its “Bomber Sock Hop” theme, and the Palmerton Booster Club varsity cheering squad with its “Work of Art” theme.

First place in the large floats category went to Kory Rabenold Productions with its “Sinister Circus” theme, followed by Palmerton Booster Club rookie football’s “Roping in the Future Bombers,” and Towamensing Soccer Club’s “Rock and Goalers.”

Honorable mention in large floats went to Lehigh Valley Quarter Midget Racing Club’s “Transforming Our Kids Into Race Car Drivers,” Booster Club competitive flag football’s “Freaky Flag Football,” and Palmerton Youth Wrestling’s “American Heroes.”

Judges’ choice for overall outstanding small float was the Booster Club rookie cheer squad with “Rub a Dub Dub Bomber Ducklings in a Tub.”

First place in small floats went to Palmerton Hungarian Club with “Hungarian Hillbillies,” followed by Lehighton Girl Scout Troop 329’s “A Halloween Bash at Camp,” and Booster Club junior varsity football’s “Bomber Pride…Football is Fun.”

Honorable mention in small floats went to Cub Pack 209’s “Superheroes are Everywhere,” Bowmanstown 10 and under softball’s “Zombie Softball is Fun,” Tumble With Denise’s “Gymnastics Makes Me Beam,” and the Collier Family’s “Racing Is Fun and Family Oriented.”

First place for best appearing costumed group went to Lehighton Girl Scouts with its “Girl Scouts Add Spice To Your Life” theme, followed by Girl Scout Troop 301’s “The Walking Dead Girl Scouts.”

Honorable mention went to Girl Scout Troop 33416’s “Smart Cookies,” and Girl Scout Troop 3259’s “Proud To Celebrate The United States of Cookies.”

The Palmerton High School cheerleaders took home first prize in the best appearing non-costumed group, followed by the Palmerton junior high cheerleaders and Dance With Kim.

Palmerton junior varsity cheerleaders, TNT Studio of Dance and Mountain Karate Academy received honorable mention.

Top honors in the automotive group went to Palmerton Brownie Troop 3583 and its “Saving The World Superheroes” theme, followed by Gombert Family Amusements in second. Honorable mention went to the Pace Makers Association, the Carbon County Fair Queen and Stepps Hauling and Recycling.

Booster Club junior varsity cheerleaders were voted most patriotic group for its “Party in the USA” theme.

The parade, Palmerton’s 27th, was the first in which the Christian Action Council of Palmerton Area Churches collected nonperishable food items to benefit the Palmerton Food Pantry.

Parade organizer Sue Arner thanked the Leo Club for its volunteer efforts in pushing around the shopping carts, which were made available for use by Country Harvest.

Palmerton National Junior Honor Society Members also volunteered, carrying banners throughout the parade.