The 27th Annual Jim Thorpe Halloween Parade was held Saturday along the East Side of Jim Thorpe, to the delight of the crowds of people lined up along the route to watch.

By the numbers, there were over 300 walkers, 14 floats, 10 borough and first responder vehicles, and at least 15 classic automobiles in the parade, which was sponsored by the Jim Thorpe Lions Club.

“This our first time to see this parade,” Lauren Balliet said. Balliet, along with friend Shaylin Bauder, and the five children between them were seated long North Street near the judges table.

“We’re from Lansford,” Balliet said. “We usually get to the Palmerton parade and Tamaqua. This our first time here.”

The posthumous grand marshal was Jimmy Trainer.

Trainer, who died earlier this year, was active with the parade committee, plus the Jim Thorpe Borough Council, and worked with the Jim Thorpe Borough Department as street supervisor.

He was also a member of the Jim Thorpe Lions Club, the Jim Thorpers Bicycle Team, the Mauch Chunk Rod & Gun Club, and the Fairview Hose Company.

His family and friends rode in a wagon being pulled by two black horses at the front of the parade.

The town of Jim Thorpe was well-represented with the Jim Thorpe Borough Council dressed up as the Village People, a dump truck from the borough garage, the police department, the community watch program; and the fire department.

The Jim Thorpe Olympian Marching Band and Cheerleaders marched in various Halloween costumes, along with the Jim Thorpe Olympian Booster Club featuring boys and girls of all ages involved in various sports.

Several of the parade highlights included several members of the Jim Thorpers Bicycle Club, who annually ride from Philadelphia to Atlantic City, raising funds for the Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to supporting the families of first responders who are killed or severely injured in the line of duty.

The Hawk Mountain Highlanders, a bagpipe band from Schuylkill County, entertained the crowds with their music and precision marching. Gregory Badger had his Calliope in the parade. The calliope, which looks like a small pipe organ, played music throughout the parade.

The Shriners with their “Tin Lizzie” cars rode in the parade, an annual tradition throughout the area.

“Look, Chucky!” shouted Grayson Rhyder, one of the children watching the parade dressed up as “Chucky.”

He was pointing out an Oldsmobile Alero GL, an entry with the Jukebox Cruisers, featured an animated “Chucky” doll on the roof of the car.

A variety of classic and sports cars from the Jukebox Cruisers and the Jim Thorpe/Carbon County Pharoah’s Club drove in the parade.

St. John’s Lutheran Church at 5th and North Streets, sold hot dogs and other refreshments, and vendors with carts full of cotton candy and bags of popcorn walked the parade route.

Many of the children along the parade route wore their best Halloween costumes, with bags and buckets ready for the candy that most parade entrants tossed to them.

The winners were:

Best Groups:

1. Olympian Booster Club

2. Jim Thorpe High School Band and Cheerleaders

3. Cub Pack 138

Best Float:

1. Penn Forest Fire Co

2. Republican Party

3. Greg Badger’s Calliope

Most Original:

1. Girl Scout Troop 30470

2. Girl Scout Troop 30903

3. Jukebox Cruisers