The 50th annual Lehighton Area Halloween Parade will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday. The rain date is 2 p.m. Sunday.

The parade will begin at Seventh and Coal streets and make its way down to the Third Street intersection, before making a right onto Mahoning Street and then a left onto Eighth Street, where it will disband at the Grove.

Robert Silliman has been selected as grand marshal for this year’s event.

Erin McGinley, Lehighton Halloween Parade Committee, said Silliman was chosen for the distinction due to his service work as president of the Carbon County Fair for many years.

“He has done a lot of community service/volunteer work for the county,” McGinley said.

Silliman organized the current Carbon County Fair in 1999 and has served as its president for 22 years, and it is through his efforts of bringing the local Lion and Lioness clubs together that the fair was founded.

Silliman has also been an active member of the Palmerton Lions Club for 28 years, where he previously served in the capacity of treasurer and president.

He is also an associate member of the Lehighton Area Lioness Lions Club for the past 15 years in which he looked to assist its members with raising funds to give back to the Lehighton community.

Silliman previously received the prestigious Melvin Jones Award, the highest reward received through Lions International.

Previously, he was a supporter and raised funds for Toys for Tots and Dream Come True. Silliman has also been an active volunteer with the American Cancer Society for the past 12 years.

Silliman said he is humbled to serve as grand marshal.

“It’s an honor, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Silliman said.

Julie Harris, chairwoman of the Lehighton Halloween Parade Committee, said that the beggars will be in front of the parade.

“The parade has always run on donations,” Harris said. “We need donations.”

Harris said the parade runs strictly on donations from the local businesses and from the public. There is no entry fee to participate in the parade.

She said financial help in conducting previous parades has been greatly appreciated, and any monetary contribution is greatly appreciated.

“The Halloween Parade is one of the highlights,” Harris said. “Over the years we’ve had family reunions planned around our date, family gatherings.”

Donations may be sent to the Lehighton Area Halloween Parade Committee, P.O. Box 241, Lehighton, PA, 18235.

Registration and division assignments will be held at Ninth and Coal streets starting at 2 p.m. Groups are not to meet in front of the registration table.

Each group must have a representative register in order to be eligible for a prize. All tractor-trailer floats must be in line by 3 p.m. If the rain date is needed, tractor-trailers must be in line by 1 p.m.

Paraders are reminded they are permitted to toss candy and gum to the viewers, but cannot stop and perform in front of the judge’s stand. No ATVs are allowed.