Connellsville schedules Halloween parade
New Haven Hose Co. will sponsor the 96th annual Halloween parade on Oct. 26. Pictured are (from left) Joe Alesantrino; Joe Childs, fire chief and parade chairman; Charles W. Matthews, fire company president; and William S. Mickey, fire company secretary. CONNELLSVILLE – The season of ghosts, goblins, Spiderman and Power Rangers will be marked during the 96th Annual Halloween Parade sponsored by the New Haven Hose Volunteer Fire Co.
Company fire Chief Joe Childs said that area school bands, fire departments, Scouting organizations and civic groups along with the mummers will again take part in the Oct. 26 event.
“We’re expecting about 35 units,” said Childs.
Participants are asked to be in line on the city’s west side at 6:15 p.m. with pre-judging to take place at 6:30 p.m.
As in prior years, said Childs, various monetary prizes will be awarded for best original costume, outstanding floats and bands.
The parade will begin at 7 p.m.
“Everyone is in line by 7 (p.m.), so we decided to move the starting time up by 30 minutes,” he said, noting the 7:30 p.m. starting time in past years.
Childs said that organizers are asking various groups that would distribute candy to those along the parade route not to toss the treats from vehicles or floats.
“We’re trying to avoid having anyone accidentally hurt,” he said. “We’re requesting that representatives from the organizations walk along the parade route and hand out the treats.”
Participants are invited to visit the East Side Fire Station along Arch Street at the conclusion of the parade, where members of the host fire department will distribute treats.