A parade to observe the 250th birthday of our nation is set to step off at 1 p.m. Saturday in Lehighton.

Sponsored by the Lehighton Downtown Initiative and Lehigh Fire Co. No. 1 Social Club, the parade is part of the celebration entitled “Lehighton 250 USA, Small Town, Big Story.”

The parade will begin at Seventh and Coal Street and travel east to Third Street, then go south to Iron Street and travel west to Eighth Street, where it will disband at the Community Grove. Road closures along the parade route will begin at around noon.

There will be no parking along the parade route beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday until around 3 p.m., or upon completion of the parade.

The parade is expected to include various community groups, local emergency service organizations and local bands bringing participants, their families and numerous spectators to the borough for the day.

Current cash prizes total at least $10,000.

Steve Ebbert, co-chair of the Lehighton 250 event, said currently over 30 organizations have registered for the parade, which is broken up into four divisions.

Ebbert said seven local nonprofit organizations will be selling food after the parade at the Community Grove. Favorite festival foods like funnel cakes, sausage sandwiches, soft pretzels, filling and gravy and many other food items will be available for purchase. It will also include bounce houses and children’s games.

Ebbert said, “Participating in community events, such as Lehighton’s 250 USA, Small Town, Big Story, allows people to celebrate important milestones in our nation’s history and enjoy the freedoms that have been guaranteed to us through the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

“It also pays tribute to local volunteers from various emergency service organizations. This is a great way to recognize their service to communities and celebrates Pennsylvania history as Ben Franklin started the first volunteer fire company in Philadelphia during the colonial period.”

Though many of the 250 USA celebrations took place before or on July 4, the borough chose to use a date in September closest to the signing of Pennsylvania’s first Constitution.

During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress realized that British Colonies in America would need to be come independent states. After the Declaration of Independence was signed, Pennsylvania transitioned from a British colony into a self-governing commonwealth and signed its first Constitution of Sept. 28, 1776, and it was presided over by Benjamin Franklin as president of the convention.

Artwork for the celebration was created by local artists Steph and Chloe Gustafson. It incorporates the “Lehighton 250 USA, Small Town, Big Story” theme with images of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Station and New Jersey Central Trestle, the statue of Jacob Weiss, original Zion Church steeple and of course, the town’s fountain.

The LDI is planning to award prizes in categories Patriotic Coaster Race, Patriotic Church Group, Patriotic Restaurant/Bar, Patriotic Farm/Agriculture, Patriotic Business, Best Patriotic Community/Auxiliary/Service Group and a Color Guard or Veterans Group.

The Lehigh Fire Co. No. 1 Inc. Social Club will sponsor the parade awards for fire departments and ambulances to honor the contributions of Benjamin Franklin to volunteer firefighting. He is remembered with helping found the Union Fire Company, sometimes called Franklin’s Bucket Brigade, in Philadelphia in 1736. It was America’s first volunteer fire company. The top prize will be $2,000 for the best marching emergency service company with music. There are 13 different categories for emergency vehicle prizes.

A festival will be held at the Lehighton Community Grove on the same day as the parade, and there will be live entertainment in the Grove throughout the day. Food stands will be available, and Lehighton 250 USA T-shirts will be for sale at the festival. The festival will continue until around 9 p.m.

“It is important to become involved in our communities, exercise the freedoms that our founding fathers provided, and support our local nonprofits that rely on fundraising efforts for success,” Ebbert said. “The LDI and Lehigh Fire Co. No. 1, Social Club hope that it will be a parade and festival that the entire Lehighton Community will enjoy to celebrate the 250 USA and the signing of Pennsylvania’s Constitution on Sept. 28, 1776.”

Ebbert said any organizations that would like to participate in the parade can find information on the Lehighton Downtown Initiative Facebook page. They may also register on the day of the parade at the corner of Ninth and Coal Street starting at 11 , ,m.

Fire department and emergency vehicles may register in front of Lehigh Fire Co. No. 1, Social Club, located at 140 S. Third St., beginning at 9 a.m. Judging of emergency vehicles will take place on Third Street in front of the firehouse from 9 a.m. until noon. The social club will be open to the public throughout the day.