Witches, ghosts, creepy clowns — and quite a few space invaders — visited Tamaqua’s downtown Tuesday night as part of the 59th annual Tamaqua Halloween Parade.

Sponsored by the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce, the procession brought thousands who packed sidewalks to watch the hundreds of marchers and numerous floats travel along Broad Street.

There were costumes galore, lights galore and candy galore.

The parade began with the Tamaqua police, followed by fire departments and emergency responders from across the area, youth sports organizations, dance troupes and local day cares and businesses.

Floats had wheels — and even some sails.

One was fashioned to look like a haunted boat with creepy sailors from the Kids Corner Day Care. A pirate ship with a towering mast and a cast of seaworthy ghouls sailed along the street, too.

The Mystery Machine, made famous by the cast of Scooby Doo, cruised the street, as did numerous UTVs twirled in lights and decked with many, many skeletons.

Hidden River Credit Union’s float had an “under the sea” theme, with members dressed as bioluminescent jellyfish, while way, way above ground, the Tamaqua Boy Scout Troop 777 visited as aliens arriving in their own personal crafts, which were fashioned from clear umbrellas and trailing streamers.

A bigger intergalactic vessel — a float from Andreas Silicone — featured more aliens and a Men in Black theme.

St. Luke’s Miners Campus brought a cast of characters as did Lehigh Carbon Community College.

The Tamaqua Area Raider Band provided music, with cheerleaders wearing torn and bloodied T-shirts and majorettes dressed as pirates. Flag twirlers’ outfits were dotted with bright lights and band members dressed as an array of creatures and critters.

A Guers Dairy truck was draped in lighted iced tea containers, and a float from Knoebel’s Amusement Resort included a frightening carousel and train.

Even a dog got in on the action. Sitting in the passenger side of a Jeep driven by a member of the Tamaqua Elks, the large dog wore a costume — and dipped his head out the window as he wagged his tail.

Not to be upstaged by the canine, a cat accompanied the Tamaqua Scouts. Not a black one — but an orange one — who was carted around in a bubble-style backpack.

And it wasn’t only parade participants who dressed in costume. Children watching the parade wore their finest Halloween apparel.

Even a car on a rollback pulled by Northeast Keystone Towing and Recovery was in a costume of sorts. The vehicle, banged up and looking worse for wear, was wrapped in cobwebs.

As for the candy, Mayor Nathan Gerace was the first of a long line of parade participants who tossed sweets to children. Tootsie rolls, lollipops, bubble gum and a lighted bracelet or two flew through the air as children scurried to collect them.

Ann Marie Calabrese, the ’80s Guru, and Polka Joe Manjack were on the air live with WMGH-FM from a spot outside the Tamaqua Area Historical Society. In between commentary by the two, the station played some songs with lyrics referencing monsters and more.

Broad Street, which is also Route 209, was closed for the event. Tamaqua Fire Police assisted with traffic control.

As for the winners, the new People’s vote went to Tamaqua Baseball 11 year-old District Champions.

St. Luke’s Miners Campus placed first for Most Creative, followed by Hidden River Credit Union in second and The Dance Factory in third. First place for best theme went to Knoebel’s Amusement Resort, followed by Maple Shade Meadow in second, and West Penn Scouts Troop 756 in third.

The Best Overall award went to Andreas Silicone, which took home the same Award in 2024.

Parade organizer Brian Keich congratulated all winners, who will receive monetary prizes.