BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Halloween came to Bethlehem early Sunday as the city’s more-than-century-old holiday parade snaked through part of North Bethlehem.
Hundreds of children and their families lined the roughly 1.5-mile route.
Starting from Ninth Avenue and Broad Street, the parade snaked eastward before making a right turn onto Main Street and marching through part of Historic Downtown Bethlehem.
To the scrambling kids, it seemed, the only thing better than trick-or-treating is when the candy comes to you.Scenes at Bethlehem's Halloween parade on Sunday
Kids dressed as dinosaurs, police officers, football players, cartoon characters, super heroes, princes and princesses— plus plenty not in costume — eagerly jostled for candy tossed out by people dressed as bananas, Elvis Presley, steelworkers, vampires, crayons, skeletons and more.
To the scrambling kids, it seemed, the only thing better than trick-or-treating is when the candy comes to you.
Interspersed between the candy-throwing emissaries of the region’s businesses, nonprofits and school groups were marching bands from area middle and high schools and emergency vehicles, sirens wailing, from local first responders.
In all, more than 90 groups walked in the parade.
The Bethlehem parade also is a contest, with judges crowning the best float, large marching group, school, Scout group and small marching group.
Additionally, Mayor J. William Reynolds and the parade committee each give out an overall award.
City officials typically announce the winners on the day after the parade.
Easton-Phillipsburg parade
Meanwhile, on the east side of the Lehigh Valley, the annual Easton/Phillipsburg joint Halloween parade made its way across the Delaware River Sunday afternoon.
More than 25 participating groups marched from McKeen Street in Phillipsburg across the Northampton Street Bridge to Easton's Centre Square.
That parade, too, is a contest, with prizes for the best marching band, community group, and non-profit organization.
Officials will also give out awards for the most creative entry and a Mayors’ Choice prize.
Allentown kicked off the string of Halloweekend parades on Saturday with it annual Halloween walking parade celebration.
