Lehighton Fire Department’s 150th anniversary celebration continues to draw nearer.

Borough fire Chief Pat Mriss spoke to the event, planned for Sept. 28. The event will be highlighted by a parade.

Mriss said the event will be held at the Grove, post-parade.

It would be open to community organizations, nonprofits such as church organizations, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, youth sports organizations who are invited to sell food.

Mriss noted they would have to register with the department.

Afterward, council agreed to waive the fee for community groups for drop boxes for the 150th celebration.

In February, Steve Ebbert, chairperson for the 150th Anniversary Committee, outlined the plans for the celebration.

Ebbert said the original organization founded in 1874 was known as Lehigh Hook and Ladder Company, and that the Lehighton Fire Department still proudly displays ribbons from the original organization at its current firehouse.

As part of the anniversary celebration, they will not only dedicate the new KME ladder truck, but also its new brush truck and boat. The units will be dedicated in September, in the week prior to the parade, and each will be dedicated to members of the two most influential organizations in the department history, those being Lehigh Fire Co. No. 1, Inc. and Engine Company No. 2.

Ebbert said the anniversary celebration and parade is hoping to celebrate the history of firefighting throughout the area, and have raised money to accomplish providing awards for fire apparatus and also cash prizes for specific categories.

Awards will be for the Best Appearing Hahn ($250); Best Appearing KME ($250); Best Appearing Open Cab American LaFrance ($250); Best Appearing American LaFrance ($250); and Best Appearing Marching Unit, with music ($3,000).

Ebbert said the 150th Anniversary Committee is also planning to pay the cost of at least eight high school bands to attend.