Jim Thorpe parade bested the rain

The old saying is it’s better late than never, but it was early that turned out to be better for the Jim Thorpe Lions Club Halloween parade.

Rain in the forecast for Sunday bumped up the 23rd annual event a day and whether it was a “group of little cubs” or a “pack of Cub Scouts,” there was plenty to cheer for when the parade stepped off Saturday at 3 p.m.

According to Jim Trainer of the Jim Thorpe Lions Club, pirates from the Little Bear Cub Care Inc. on North Street in the borough won first prize in the float category.

The child care center’s pirate ship theme bested Cub Scout Pack 138 members, who gathered in their boat float “hooked on fishing” theme.

The change in the schedule did little to impact the crowd, which gathered under sunny skies to cheer on the parade participants.

Dressed in the still popular Elsa costume from 2013, 7-year-old Brittany Phillips said she was happy her parents were able to bring her to the parade with her friends.

“I’m glad they had it,” Phillips said. “We had a Halloween party at school and I’m glad we got to come out in our costumes one last time.”

Not only did the Little Bear Cub Care Inc. win the float category, it also topped the group category.

Coming in second was Girl Scout Troop 30470.

Turn To Us, an area non-profit that has participated in the parade in the past, was awarded most original prize for its “doctors and nurses” theme. A close second were members of Getz Personal Care Home, who dressed up as Dorothy, the scarecrow, tin man, cowardly lion and Glinda the Good Witch from the Wizard of Oz.

It was far more than floats and walking groups, however.

The Jim Thorpe Area High School marching band gave the crowd a performance, as did the Hawk Mountain Highlanders.

Many antique automobile owners decked out their rides with creepy decorations.

Per tradition, Mr. and Mrs. Claus closed the parade and did their best to usher in the holiday season.