There were Smurfs, Ghostbusters, and even Freddy Krueger look-a-likes.

While it wasn't quite "Back to the Future", the 20th annual Palmerton Halloween Parade featured a nice mix of nostalgia and modern-day gimmicks to satisfy the bevy of onlookers who packed Delaware Avenue on Sunday.On what proved to be a perfect day to hold a parade, the milestone event pleased parade chairperson Susan Arner, who deemed it quite the success."The level of participation was up, and the quality, workmanship and creativity they put into their events was exceptional," Arner said. "Hopefully we can continue to fundraise and have even more bands and musical entertainment than what we had this year."The four-division parade started at Seventh Street and Delaware Avenue. From there, it went up Delaware to Third Street, and then turned left onto Franklin Avenue. It then continued to Second Street, and traveled right on Second Street to Lafayette Avenue, where it turned right and continued to Seventh Street, where it disbanded.The parade was led off by the Palmerton Police Department; Parade Grand Marshal Horsehead Community Development Fund Committee; Palmerton United Veterans Organization Color Guard; Palmerton

V.F.W. vehicles; State Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon); and the Carbon County Sheriff's Office.Division I was comprised of the Palmerton Community Ambulance (2 vehicles); Ceol Mor Pipe and Drum Band of Luzerne County; Palmerton Junior High Cheerleaders; Palmerton High School JV Cheerleaders; Palmerton High School Varsity Cheerleaders; Palmerton High School Homecoming King and Queen 2011 Kelsey Eaton and Kane Kralik; Blue Mountain Town and Country Gazette; S.S. Palmer/Parkside PTO; Cub Pack 209; Carbon County Fair Queen 2011 Kalyn Lehr, with first runner-up Maura Kelly and attendants Erin and Aly McGinley; Girl Scout Troop 3248; Brownie Troop 3862; and the Palmerton Fire Company.Participants in Division 2 consisted of the Palmerton Ambulance (2 vehicles); Palmerton Booster Club 100 lb. football team; Brownie Troop 3259 and Girl Scout Troop 37; North Side Cruisers; Palmerton Booster Club flag football team; Cub Pack 41; Ice Cream Lab of Walnutport; Kenlin Dance Academy; Girl Scout troops 3580 and 3127; Palmerton Booster Club 130 lb. football team; Palmerton Booster Club flag cheerleaders; Palmerton/Towamensing Athletic Association Youth Softball; and the Aquashicola/Lower Towamensing Volunteer Fire Company.The third division consisted of the Palmerton Ambulance (2 vehicles); Girl Scout Troop 3112; Tumble with Denise; Yensers Tree Farm; Blue Mt. Fish & Game Association; Allentown Hobo Band; Palmerton Area Girl Scout Service Unit; Palmerton Booster Club 85 lb. football team; Elegant Arrivals Limousine Service; Girl Scout Troop 33412; Carbon County Republican Committee; Palmerton Boy Scout Troop 20; Palmerton Booster Club 85 lb. cheerleaders; and the Bowmanstown Fire Department.Participants who composed Division 4 were the Palmerton Ambulance (2 vehicles); Palmerton Booster Club 100 lb. cheerleaders; Palmerton/Towamensing Athletic Association Baseball; Carbon County Democratic Committee; Palmerton Booster Club 130 lb. cheerleader; Disc Jockey Kings; Palmerton Booster Club 130 lb. football; Shirley Katz Insurance and A&S Katz Notary; Relay for Life of Palmerton and Surrounding Communities; Parryville Fire Company; East Penn Volunteer Fire Company; Palmerton Ambulance vehicle; and the Palmerton Fire Department.The emcee duties were performed by Tammy Recker.Judges were Louise Koons, Connie Reinhart, and Susie George.Monetary awards were provided through parade sponsors, as well as donations received from the spectators along the parade route.Parade winners were:Best Appearing Non-Costumed Group: 1. Palmerton Jr. High cheerleaders 2. Palmerton JV cheerleaders 3. PHS Varsity cheerleaders Honorable Mention Boy Scout Troop 20Best Appearing Costumed Group: 1. Tumble with Denise "Upside down and Witch Way" 2. Brownie Troop 3862 "The Wonders of Water" 3. Girl Scout Troop 3248 "All Aboard the girl Scout Train" Honorable Mention - Girl Scout Troop 33412 "Pirates on Parade" Honorable Mention - Palmerton Booster Club 100 lb. cheerleaders "Hollywood Stars"Small Floats - Judges Choice for Outstanding Small Float: Girl Scout Troop 3112 "Celebrating 100 years of good Clean Fun" Judges Choice for Outstanding Palmerton Sports group Float: Palmerton Booster Club 85 lb. Cheerleaders "Take em to the Bomber Graveyard"; 1. Palmerton Booster Club Flag Football Cheerleaders "Bombers Gone Country" 2. Ice Cream Lab of Walnutport "Sweet Celebrations" 3. Shirley Katz Insurance "Willy Wonka" 4. S.S. Palmer/Parkside PTO "The Smurfs" Honorable Mention - Relay for Life "Fighting Back against Cancer; Kenlin Dance Academy "Trick or Treat"; Disc Jockey Kings "Pirates of the Caribbean Sounds of the Black Pearl"; and Girl Scout troops 259 & 37 "Cookies for our Servicemen and Women"Large Floats - Judges Choice for Overall Outstanding Large Float: Girl Scout troops 3580 and 3127 "SpongeBob" Judges Choice for Outstanding Palmerton Sports Group Large Float: Palmerton Booster Club 100 lb. football "We Are Patriotic Football Players" 1. Palmerton Booster Club 130 lb. football "Hunting down the Competition 2. Cub Pack 41 "American Folklore in the Scouting World" 3. Palmerton Booster Club 130 lb. cheerleaders "Party Rocking the Competition Honorable Mention - Blue Mt. Fish & Game Association "Fish the Blue"Decorated Automotive: 1. Town and Country Gazette 2. Philadelphia Ghostbusters "Who ya goona Call" Honorable Mention - North Side Cruisers.Non-Decorated Automotive: 1. Carbon County Fair Queen 2. Elegant Arrivals LimousineBest Patriotic Theme: Yensers Tree Farm "Trees for Troops" 2. Palmerton

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