Every holiday garners a different kind of celebration, like setting off fireworks for the Fourth of July or handing out heart-shaped cards on Valentine’s Day. But there’s one festivity that always sets a mood, no matter what time of year it is. And it’s a parade.

The 48th annual Lehighton Area Halloween Parade kicked off Saturday with bands, floats and of course ghouls.

Community members, some of whom have attended for years, lined the streets of Lehighton, starting at Seventh and Coal streets.

Children dressed in a variety of costumes, from princesses to superheroes, sports stars to comic characters, waiting for their share of the candy that will soon be thrown from the parade’s participants.

The parade also featured parade-favorite floats, big red fire engines and the high school band.

“We would like to thank all the participants, volunteers and of course the spectators for another wonderful parade,” said Julie Harris, parade organizer.

For Suzanne and Bob Hunsicker of Lehighton, attending the borough’s Halloween procession was a habit formed when the parade first began.

They said they started coming to the parade while they were still dating. Now, after being married for more than 40 years, the two spent Saturday afternoon surrounded by their grandchildren and celebrating the spooky season with a community they’ve known for so long.

“We come every year,” Suzanne Hunsicker said. “We went when we were younger, now we’re bringing the grandkids.”

“It’s Halloween and we can support the town,” Bob Hunsicker added.

“We came with our kids, our grandkids and now we come with the great-grandkids. Hopefully that’s the last ones,” he said with a chuckle.

The first and second place winners in each category were:

Dance: first, Tricia’s Dance Extreme, and second, Dance with Kim.

Sports: first, Franklin Township Athletic Association, and second, Lehighton Field Hockey team.

Caregivers: first, Getz Personal Care Home, and second, Caregivers of America.

Boy Scouts: first, Cub Pack 82, and second, Cub Pack 145.

High School clubs: tied for first place, Lehighton High School SADD and Lehighton High School Red Cross.

Girl Scouts: first, Troop 33 and second, Troop 3248.

Brownies: first, Troop 3801 and Troop 03620.

Clubs: first, Andreas Sporting Club and second, Lehighton Leos.

Day cares: first, Jack and Jill Preschool.

Race cars: first, Bowman Racing and second, Miller Motorsports.

Auto groups: first, Blocker-Yamaha-Kawasaki and second, Jukebox Cruisers.

Decorated business: first, Griff’s Ale Haus & Grille and second, Kory Rabenold.

Christmas: first, Crystal Spring Tree Farm and second, Yenser’s Tree Farm.

Other: first, Gombert Family Games, and second, Carbon County Fair Queen and court.