It may be a little backward, but Emmaus plans to hold ‘Reverse Halloween Parade’
To keep the spirit of Halloween alive in 2020, you might have to plan something a little backward.
Emmaus — one of many Valley communities that canceled its annual Halloween parade due to COVID-19 — has planned a “Reverse Halloween Parade,” 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at the borough’s Community Park. The event is being organized by the borough and Emmaus Main Street Partners.
Instead of elaborate, overthe-top floats traveling down Chestnut Street, floats will be stationary at Borough Community Park. Those who attend will stay safely in their cars and drive through the park, viewing the floats as they drive through.
It’s a way to celebrate the tradition of the borough’s parade, which would have marked its 99th anniversary this year, in a pandemic-friendly way.
Emmaus, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton-Phillipsburg and numerous other municipalities have had to cancel their Halloween parades due to state Department of Health COVID-19 regulations on outdoor events.
Even trick or treat is up in the air. While most municipalities still plan to host trick or treat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently said traditional trick or treat would be “high risk.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has not yet issued any guidelines.
“The Emmaus parade is huge and people look forward to it every year,” said Ashley Lorah, Emmaus Main Street manager.
“We definitely didn’t want to do nothing. This helps keep people’s spirits up.”
At the reverse parade, participants will have to stay in their cars as they travel through the “parade route.”
Businesses, civic groups, nonprofits and families are welcome to create a float with a Halloween theme. Those planning to enter a float can either bring it to the park to set up or construct it there.
The entry fee for floats is $25, benefiting the 100th Anniversary Halloween Parade, scheduled for next year. Lorah said that while it’s free for people to drive through the parade, organizers will be accepting donations.
Beyond being Halloween-themed, the floats are up to a group’s imagination. Participants can include music, performances, lights, smoke-machines and more. It’s just important for participants to tell the borough how large the float is or will be, so they can leave enough space in between it and other floats for people to see them.
Of course those who regularly attend the borough’s Halloween parade know that an unofficial (and often discouraged) tradition is for float participants to pass out candy to those watching the parade. Lorah said they can still do that, but people must remain in their cars throughout the parade.
To get a float application and more information: https://www.facebook.com/emmaus.borough.