Schuylkill Haven Halloween parade is a time to dress up and act like a kid, says cartoon character Goofy

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The annual Halloween parade is more than just a spooky night out for Jill DeLong. It’s a right of passage.

Growing up, she marched in the parade with the Schuylkill Haven High School Band. Her sons marched with the school’s football team and rode on a Cub Scout float.

A new family tradition began Tuesday evening when her grandchildren, ages three and five, came to watch the parade.

“Schuylkill Haven is a really fun town to grow up in and raise your kids,” said DeLong, a certified nursing assistant.

Schuylkill Haven Free Public Library staff and volunteers get ready for Schuylkill Haven’s Halloween Parade Tuesday evening, Oct. 29, 2024. The event hosted by the Schuylkill Haven Recreation Department returned to using the town’s Main Street as a parade route. (JOHNATHAN B. PAROBY/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)

The Sabo School of Irish Dance Pirate Ship during the Schuylkill Haven Halloween Parade Tuesday evening, October 29, 2024. The event hosted by the Schuylkill Haven Recreation Department returned to using the town’s main street as a parade route. (JOHNATHAN B. PAROBY/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)

The public was happy to see the parade route return to Main Street for the Schuylkill Haven Halloween Parade on Tuesday evening, October 29, 2024. The event, hosted by the Schuylkill Haven Recreation Department, featured dozens of floats and more than a thousand spectators present. (JOHNATHAN B. PAROBY/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)

Main Street Moonshine during Schuylkill Haven’s Halloween Parade Tuesday evening, Oct. 29, 2024. The event hosted by the Schuylkill Haven Recreation Department returned to using the town’s Main Street as a parade route. (JOHNATHAN B. PAROBY/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)

Players from the Schuylkill County Youth Soccer Association Schuylkill Haven team show off their back-to-back championship medals during the Schuylkill Haven Halloween Parade on Tuesday evening, October 29, 2024. The event hosted by the Schuylkill Haven Recreation Department returned to using the town’s Main Street as a parade route. (JOHNATHAN B. PAROBY / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)

Caitlyn Biggs, director of the Schuylkill Haven Area High School marching band, leads the band during the Schuylkill Haven Halloween Parade on Tuesday evening, October 29, 2024. The event hosted by the Schuylkill Haven Recreation Department returned to using the town’s Main Street as a parade route. (JOHNATHAN B. PAROBY/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)

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Her sentiments were echoed by hundreds of people who lined Main Street, several rows deep at some points, to watch the Halloween parade.

“Halloween is magical,” said Melissa Woody of Schuylkill Haven, who dressed as Scooby Doo as a child in New Jersey.

She watched the parade with her 6-year-old daughter Luna, who was dressed as Princess Peach from Super Mario Bros.

Led by a Liberty Fire Co. truck, lights flashing against the evening sky, the column of floats and marching units kept spectators enthralled for more than an hour.

Mykal McCulloch, parks and facilities manager, said the parade with 60 floats and marching groups was one of the largest ever in the borough.

The city recreation department organized the parade with help from the city department and police.

The parade lined up at Schuylkill Haven High School and followed a straight route down Main Street to St. Charles Street.

Participating in the parade were antique tractors from the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds and a contingent from the Schuylkill County Special Olympics.

For M&T Bank, dancers from the Schuylkill Ballet Theater previewed “The Nutcracker,” which will be performed Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at the Schuylkill Haven High School Auditorium.

Dancers from the Sabo School of Irish Dance, Orwigsburg, performed aboard a float sponsored by Red White and Blue Auto.

John Buchwalter, a laboratory technician from Schuylkill Haven, got into the Halloween spirit dressed as Goofy, the Disney cartoon character.

“It’s the time of year to dress up and act like kids,” he said. “It almost feels like Christmas.”