Plans have been announced for the 45th Annual Tamaqua Halloween Parade. This year's parade will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 25, beginning at 7 p.m. The rain date is Wednesday, Oct. 26. The parade will once again be sponsored by the Tamaqua Lions Club, with assistance from the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce. Communications along the parade route will be provided by the Tamaqua Wireless Association. Tamaqua Fire Police will also volunteer their time to assist in traffic control.

This year the parade will assemble in the Jamesway Parking Lot at the east side of the borough. Participants should start arriving at 6 p.m. but no later than 6:45 p.m. The parade will commence westward on Broad Street (SR209) at 7 pm. Entries for the parade are being accepted. There is no entry fee. The parade is open to Tamaqua residents and those residing outside the borough.The judges stand will be located outside the chamber of commerce office. This year's Grand Marshall is Judge D. Michael Stein. Citizen of the Year Andy Leibenguth will be in attendance as well. State Rep. Jerry Knowles will MC the event.Registration forms for the parade are available at the chamber office. Those registering should include a contact person, with addresses and phone numbers.Other information needed includes the number of floats, vehicles and marchers and the theme of each entry. All participants will be contacted in advance of the parade with their position and set-up location. A number will be given to each participant or group prior to the parade. The divisions for the line-up will be announced the week prior to the parade.Cash prizes will be awarded for the top entries as determined by a panel of judges. There is a $150 prize for Best of Show. Additional prizes will also be presented in two categories: marching units and floats/motorized. The first place prize for each category is $100, with $75 for second place and $50 for third place.The Tamaqua Lions wanted to say a special thank you to Mauch Chunk Trust for donating the cash prizes. They also wanted to thank many other members of the community who donated time, materials and money to help support Tamaqua's largest attended parade.For more information on the parade, contact the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce, 114 W. Broad St., at (570) 668-1880 or via their fax number (570) 668-0826.