The Concourse Club of Palmerton will serve as grand marshal of the 22nd annual Palmerton Halloween Parade.

Sponsored by the Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce, the parade will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20. The rain date is 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21.The routeThe parade will form at 2:30 p.m. There will be no parking along the parade route in the 600 and 700 blocks of Franklin Avenue, from Seventh Street from Delaware to Franklin, and from the 800 blocks of Franklin and Lafayette Avenue.It will start at Seventh Street and Delaware Avenue, where it will go up to Delaware to Third Street, and then turn left onto Franklin. It will continue to Second Street, and turn right on Second Street to Lafayette Avenue, where it will turn right and continue to Seventh Street, where it will disband.Susie Arner, parade chairperson, said "The parade committee is pleased the Concourse Club has given us the opportunity to give them recognition for all they do for Palmerton and the surrounding area.""Through the efforts of their annual basket spectacular, they support many local nonprofit groups. Palmerton Borough park would not be the same without all the support they provide to keep it a beautiful place. The annual summer concert series provided for everyone free of charge is another of their outstanding accomplishments. Many thanks to all the Concourse members for your dedication to our community."Joanne Kercsmar, president of the organization, said the club is thrilled to serve as grand marshal of the event."Many of these women are involved in other organizations," Kercsmar said. "These women wear very many hats."Anita Harry, an honoree member and past president of the organization, said, "It's recognition. It will make a lot of people who don't know about us see us."Helping communityThe Concourse Club has served the community for nearly 100 years.From its modest beginnings as a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, the club has become one of the largest community service organizations in Carbon County, with about 130 members.The organization has provided support to other organizations, including: the Palmerton Area Library; Palmerton Memorial Park; Meals on Wheels, and agencies to protect women from domestic violence.In addition, the club also provides scholarships for high school seniors, and funds five Guiding Star awards, which are given to high school senior girls who display academic excellence and community involvement.The club has also been instrumental in maintaining the quality of the Palmerton Borough Park, almost single-handedly championed the restoration of the bandstand and providing funding toward improved walkways, new lighting, tree replacement, and new benches; and supports and organizes the summer band concert series.Members also decorate the park for Christmas, help the hospital auxiliary decorate for Christmas, make a Christmas craft for Meals on Wheels; and bakes cookies for area nursing homes.Kercsmar said the 2013-14 president's project, which is scheduled to begin Oct. 17, is to rebuild the flower bed around the borough park's bandstand with assistance from Matt Lang, of Lang's Landscaping, Palmerton.Major fundraisers include the Palmerton Community Festival Art Show; Spring Basket Spectacular; Biannual Christmas House Tour; Biannual Bean Sale; and Boscov Days tickets.Kercsmar added, "The Concourse Club really appreciates the public's support for all our fundraisers."The organization is always in search of new members, Harry said.For membership information, contact the group at

concourseclub@gmail.com,

www.concourseclub.org, or on Facebook under The Concourse Club of Palmerton.Participants welcomeArner said there is still room for more participants, and that the parade committee is looking for new groups/individuals, to participate."It is a fun time, and a great way to promote your group to the community," said Arner, who added that anyone interested in volunteering to assist with parade plans and lineup the day of the parade are always welcome. "Special thanks to those who have supported the parade for the first 21 years, and hopefully we can continue many more years of this tradition."Parents are reminded to keep their children at the curb to receive candy so that they don't run out into the street to pick it up, Arner said. There are no bicycles allowed in the street during the parade as well, she said.Arner said the parade committee is always in need of volunteers to assist with traffic control, registration, street closings and other jobs.To participate in the parade contact Arner at 610-826-7515 to request a registration form and leave their mailing address. There is no fee to register.