The organizers of the Andreas Halloween Parade went 12 years without a highway permit and this year’s parade was nearly canceled because of the lack of a permit.

The parade will go on as scheduled for Wednesday, but only after the sponsoring organizations obtained a highway permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation late Monday.

Bob Neumoyer, secretary of the West Penn Lions Club, told West Penn Township supervisors Monday morning that he was told by a representative from PennDOT that they needed to have a permit, which it did not have at that time.

Neumoyer said the organizers submitted paperwork to PennDOT several times this year, and then asked the board to rescind their motion from earlier this month that the parade may be held contingent upon the receipt of the permit.

Board Chairman Tony Prudenti said they’ve been doing this for 12 years now without a permit, and added “there is a liability issue all the way around.”

“From this day forward, we’re going to need a permit,” Prudenti said. “From this day forward, they must secure a permit from PennDOT.”

Supervisor Glenn Hummel, who participated via speaker phone, said “to not have anything from the state, bothers me.”

“If you get the positive go-ahead from the state, then I’m ago,” Hummel said. “If not, than I’m a no.”

Supervisor Tim Houser said he would be in favor of allowing them to proceed as long as they get a positive go-ahead from PennDOT.

Houser said he didn’t understand why they weren’t required to have a permit for the past dozen years.

Township solicitor Paul J. Datte noted that there are many organizations that are planning to participate.

“I would let him know what’s riding on this,” Datte said. “There’s a lot of people (involved).”

Late Monday afternoon, Neumoyer notified the township that they received their permit from PennDOT, and the parade is on.

The parade is sponsored by the West Penn Lions Club, VFW Post #5069 and Andreas Sporting Club.

The 71st annual event will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Andreas.

Formation of the parade is at the Andreas Sporting Club starting at 6:15 p.m. Rain date is 7 p.m. Thursday.