1385340_10153335357430104_9383223_nBy Danielle Tepper

1378662_559546814100975_1084222651_nHolidays bring out the best of small-town charm. All decked out with scarecrows and pumpkins galore, the Nazareth circle was a hub of autumn festivities Saturday, Oct. 19 as the weekly Farmers’ Market celebrated its Fall Festival in conjunction with the annual Halloween Parade.

The parade has been a staple in the borough for as far back as Carl Strye (mayor of Nazareth, fire company president, and parade chairman) can remember. But in fact, the earliest recorded parade took place in 1927, according to archived issues of the old ‘Item’ newspaper digitized at the Memorial Library of Nazareth.

From the ‘70s on, the Vigilance Hose Company No. 1 and the Nazareth Area Kiwanis Club have sponsored the parade.

“My dad did it,” said Strye. “Back then, it was a night parade. I took over in 1987 and changed the route in 1990. I think beginning and ending near the high school makes the whole process a lot easier.”

The parade sets off at Belvidere and Liberty, travels up to Main St., goes a quarter of the way around the circle, and continues down East Center St. to Nazareth Area High School.

“Over the years, it’s grown. It’s a nice parade,” said Strye. It is the most popular parade of the year; this year, there were over 1,200 participants, which included four bands, numerous Scout troops, local cheerleading squads, some area politicians and local businesses.

Jennings Transportation also raised over $5000 and donated it to the food bank.

“It’s a potluck; it’s open to anybody, so you never know what’s going to happen,” Strye said. “It’s fun, how could it not be? I’ve had a great time doing it. It takes a good group of people to run it and I just happen to have a good group of people under me to help.”

Editor’s Note: Our grateful thanks goes to the Nazareth librarians who researched the parade’s origins for us.

—Photos by Danielle S. Tepper

Listed below are the winners for this year’s parade. All cash prizes can be picked up at 49 S. Broad St. on Wednesday, Oct. 30 between 7 and 9 p.m.

BEST INDIVIDUAL

First: “Motorcycle Mama and Harley Chicks”—JoAnne Vanatta with Rhonda and Hexi the dogs

Second: “Mr. Sand Man”—Sandra Geiger

Third: “Sofia the First”—Onyx Colon

MOST COMICAL

“1960 Hippies”—JoAnn Rasy

BEST SMALL GROUP

First: Creative Kids Club Daycare

Second: The Friess family

Third: “Haunted House on Wheels—”The Smith family

Fourth: Forever Friends Daycare

BEST LARGE GROUP

First: “Under-the-sea Swim Team”—Nazareth YMCA

Second: Jeannie Cardinals’s School of Dance

Third: Jennings Transportation

BOY SCOUTS

First: “Zombie Scouts”—Cub Scout Pack 78

Second: “Scouting for Food”—Cub Pack 44

Third: “Medieval Castle”—Cub Pack 88

GIRL SCOUTS

Nazareth Area Girl Scouts

BEST FLOATS

First: “Horse and Cowboys”—Equi Librium

Second: “Hair Salon Cancer Awareness”—Angelic Hair Care

Third: “Super Heroes Fighting Cancer”—Relay For Life

CHEERLEADERS

Easton Little Red Rovers

SPECIAL JUDGES AWARD

“Horse and Cowboys”—Equi Librium

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