The 116th Greater Northern Lehigh Halloween Parade starts at 5 p.m. Saturday. The rain date is Sunday.

After a one-year hiatus, the event will mark its return complete with a new parade route, said Tiffany Rehrig-Schaeffer, co-chair of the Northern Lehigh Events Committee.

Rehrig-Schaeffer said that thanks to the cooperation of the Northern Lehigh School District and Slatington Borough, this year’s parade route will include the school campus and surrounding areas.

“The Northern Lehigh Events Committee is excited for this week’s 116th Northern Lehigh Halloween Parade,” Rehrig-Schaeffer said. “We know there was a lot of disappointment that we had to cancel last year’s event due to the lack of an approved detour, so we’re extremely grateful to the Northern Lehigh School District and Slatington Borough for allowing us to continue the tradition with a reimagined route using school grounds and the surrounding area.”

Rehrig-Schaeffer said participants will assemble in the bus loop behind Slatington Elementary School, and the route will travel down Shadow Oaks Lane and enter Bulldog Lane at the Stadium entrance.

The parade will proceed on Bulldog Lane and then make a right onto Center Street, right onto Kuehner Avenue, and then reenter school grounds using Snyder Avenue.

Designated parking areas for spectators will be available on the school grounds; however, no parking is allowed along Bulldog Lane.

“While some past participants have decided to sit this year out, the committee is appreciative for the enthusiasm of those groups who didn’t hesitant to sign up for this year’s event,” she said. “We also have some brand-new entries this year, and we are looking forward to welcoming them.”

Rehrig-Schaeffer said the theme of this year’s parade is circus, and prizes will be awarded in individual, walking group and float categories.

In addition, she said the Judges’ Award, presented in memory of Russell Hallman, Forrest Hallman and Connie Rehrig, will be awarded to the parade entry with the highest overall score.

“The parade has been a part of my Halloween season forever; some of my favorite fall memories are of sitting at Hallman’s Service Station and watching the parade with my family,” Rehrig-Schaeffer said. “I think that the hope of the committee every year is that we are helping to create those same memories and same love of the season for the members of our community.”

Blue Ridge Cable will once again provide broadcast coverage of the parade, and the Slatington Rotary Club will be collecting canned goods/donations along the parade route for the Northern Lehigh Food Bank.

She encouraged anyone who would like a registration form to send a message to NLHalloweenParade@yahoo.com.

Last year’s parade was canceled due to a lack of PennDOT permit after the Walnut Street bridge was closed in June 2024 for a bridge replacement project. It remains shut down at this time.