Oct 24, 2002 By Angie Santello For The 4 min read

Hundreds of cheering, waving bystanders took to several Uniontown streets Wednesday to watch as the 65th annual Halloween parade marched through the downtown. In a year when the parade almost was canceled, marching bands, cheerleaders and silks from area schools, dancers, Cub Scouts and residents all paraded, each wearing costumes ranging from popular cartoon characters such as Pikachu and Sponge Bob Square Pants, to occupational roles such as bakers and hockey players, to witches, pumpkins, spiders and monsters.

Last month, the board of directors of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 47 in Uniontown, which has sponsored the event over the years, voted to cancel this year’s march because its $2,200 price tag was too much to be covered by the VFW’s declining membership and modest bar and bingo profits.

However, the parade was held, thanks to the $2,200 contribution of Keymarket Communications, the owner and operator of local radio stations WOGG Froggy 94.9 and WPKL The Pickle 99.3.

Children rushing to scoop up thrown candy, costumed moms and dads pushing babies in decorated floats and the sound of the local marching bands are the sights and sounds that have become a Halloween custom for many area residents.

“It’s a fall tradition,” said Lyndon Moats, 40, of Uniontown, who has watched the parade since he was 3 years old and now brings his own family to the parade. “We come and watch it every year.”

Moats’ wife Judy, 38, agreed, expressing her gratitude that the parade tradition was continued this year.

“We’ve been coming since it started, since my kids were little,” she said. “I’m glad they didn’t cancel it, because there’s a lot of kids who come out in different costumes. There’s different kind of floats from last year, so I’m glad that they got the donations that they did.”

A science teacher at Uniontown Area High School, Art Hruby, 46, of Uniontown, said he hopes that everyone will stand behind the community so the parade does not face such a risk of cancellation again.

“I feel that the community does need an outlet such as the parade,” said Hruby. “We’ve been coming ever since the kids were 5 to 6 years old. …It gives us something to look forward to every single year.

“I would be very, very disappointed if the parade was gone,” added Hruby. “I think that everyone else would be disappointed, also. …It sort of draws together everybody and you meet neighbors and it’s like community.”

Judging went on at the VFW after the parade ended. Children and adults of all ages gathered to witness the costume and float winners.

Dressed as a lighted and decorated Christmas tree with presents as shoes, Casi Bryner, 9, of Uniontown hoped to win first place in his age group’s costume contest for a third year.

“My mom chose the tree,” Bryner said. “She thought no one else would have it.”

Noting that the tree lights ran on four batteries, Bryner said that he would have been mad if the parade was canceled.

“I was marching ever since I was a baby,” said Bryner. “I always marched. …I’m really glad that they did have it.”

A gypsy wearing a blue velvet cape and a glittery headband, Stephanie Shumar, 11, of Smock said that 2002 is her fifth year marching in the parade.

“I came to the parade to show my costume,” said Shumar, noting that her mom always called her “a gypsy,” and that sparked the idea for the costume. “I never came before I marched, but I would have been sad if it was canceled.”

Molly McClure, 11, of Upper Middletown sported a fuchsia Renaissance gown while marching for her third year in the parade. The costume was the outcome of her visit to the Renaissance Festival held in Westmoreland County each year. After seeing and liking the costumes there, she decided to get her hands on one of her own.

When McClure was reminded that the parade nearly was canceled, she said, “Halloween would not be as much fun without it.”