There were smiles all along the parade route as the 30th Annual Jim Thorpe Halloween Parade made its way through East Jim Thorpe Saturday afternoon.

Children, many in costume, were gathering up all the candy that the parade entrants tossed their way.

Members of the Jim Thorpe Lions Club, who began hosting the parade approximately 15 years ago, were at Memorial Park in the morning, preparing hot dogs and drinks, and preparing the parade lineup area at the Jim Thorpe High School. The parade kicked off at 2 p.m.

The grand marshal for the parade was local educator Thomas Lesisko, who had retired at the end of the last school year, but stepped up to fill in as interim superintendent of the Jim Thorpe School District.

There were 33 entries in three divisions in the parade.

First responders who participated included the Jim Thorpe Police Department, the Jim Thorpe Community Watch, Pennsylvania State Police, the Jim Thorpe Fire Department, the Carbon County Sheriff, and Lehighton Ambulance.

The Jim Thorpe Area High School Marching Band, Cheerleaders, and the Olympian Booster Club all marched. All three won in the Best Group category: the Booster Club won first place, along with third place in the Most Original category. The band was second in Best Group, and the Cheerleaders won third.

The Hawk Mountain Highlanders Celtic bagpipe band from Deer Lake was in the parade, as was local band Teacher and the Poet.

Local organizations included Jim Thorpe Cub Pack 138 with their entry, “1776: Patriot’s Pursuit”; and Girl Scout Service Unit 309 with their theme, “KPop Demon Hunter.”

Classic cars from the Jukebox Cruisers of Jim Thorpe were there, as were a variety of tractors, Rocky Meckes’ “1948 Tractors.”

And the very popular Forks of the Delaware Tin Lizzies from the Rajah Shrine drove their little Model T cars in the parade, as they have done for many years and in many parades.

“This parade was the best one yet!” exclaimed Pamela McElmoyle, head of the Jim Thorpe Lions Club Parade Committee. “We had a great team of Lions and wonderful community support from the Jim Thorpe Police Department and Chief (Joe) Schatz, Penn Forest Fire Police, and the Jim Thorpe Borough Council. Thank you to all who donated and supported us in any way. We truly appreciate you all. Happy Halloween!.”

Winners in the 30th Annual Jim Thorpe Halloween Parade:

Most Original: first place, Germantown Grove Club; second place, Preferred Lawn & Landscape, and third place, Jim Thorpe Olympian Booster Club.

Best Group: first place, Jim Thorpe Olympian Booster Club; second place, Jim Thorpe High School Band, and third place, Jim Thorpe High School Cheerleaders.

Best Float: first place, Germantown Grove Club; second place, Mason’s Cold Beer, and third place, Country Junction.