For only the second time in its history, large crowds won’t assemble on Broad Street in Tamaqua to witness something wonderfully frightening.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 54th annual Tamaqua Halloween Parade has been canceled, according to Brian Keich, parade organizer.

Keich, who also serves as president of the Tamaqua Lions Club, posted the following statement on the Tamaqua Halloween Parade Facebook page:

“It is with deep regret that the Tamaqua Lions want to announce that there will not be a parade this year,” Keich said. “We will be looking to return in 2021 with this annual tradition.”

Keich said that while the event sponsored by the Tamaqua Lions Club was scheduled to have been held on Oct. 27, he had been closely monitoring the situation for several months.

“We usually start planning in June, and I’ve been considering the ability to have the parade with the pandemic going on and I wanted to wait over the summer to see how the numbers improved,” he said. “The last couple of weeks, I made the decision with the way things are going and with public safety.”

Ultimately, Keich said the decision was made to call off this year’s edition.

“I wasn’t comfortable with putting that many people along our streets,” he said. “I didn’t feel fully comfortable with having the parade with any health risk for any participants and spectators.”

Though a difficult decision, Keich said he believes it is the right one.

“It’s a regrettable decision; I would have loved to have it,” he said. (But) just even one person getting sick or having adverse affects from it, we don’t want to see anybody affected from having our parade.”

Keich said it’s unfortunate for the kids and all the spectators for whom the event is a highlight of their year.

“It’s a night for the kids in town to get candy, just seeing the different groups that are able to put together different floats,” he said. “Just the ability to have the community come together.”

Keich, who noted the only other time the parade was canceled was due to a snowstorm, said the goal is for next year’s parade to be a must-see attraction.

“We’re looking to make it an even better and bigger parade for 2021,” he said. “We’re looking forward to bringing our annual tradition back.”