Floats, cheer squads, dance troupes and costumed walkers filled the borough’s streets Sunday afternoon for the 35th annual Palmerton Halloween Parade.

The Palmerton Booster Club varsity cheerleaders and the Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club shared the parade’s top prize. Judges named both best appearing large float overall. The cheerleaders built their entry around a “Get Ready for Trouble” theme with a take on Disney villains. The Rod and Gun Club’s float was titled “Roots in the Community, Eyes on Conservation.”

“The setting of today’s parade was picture perfect,” parade emcee and judge Tammy Recker said. “The streets were filled, and there was that familiar autumn cool in the air. Palmerton came alive honoring our local military heroes and our first responders.”

The Booster Club varsity football team won best appearing Bomber float for “A Tribute to Michael Jackson.”

Towamensing Soccer Club placed first among large floats with “The Superheroes of Towamensing Soccer.” Booster Club JV cheer was second with “K Pop Demon Hunters.” Blue Mountain Resort took third with “Let It Snow.”

Five large floats earned honorable mention. They were Cub Pack 209’s “Lego Scouts Building a Future,” PathStone Head Start’s “We Teach the Cutest Pumpkins in the Patch,” the Booster Club competition flag and rookie football teams’ “We Are the Waterboys,” Booster Club JV football’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and Booster Club flag cheer’s “Working 9 to 5.”

“It’s a great parade,” Palmerton resident Rachel Snyder said. “Somebody always comes up with something we’ve never seen before.”

Carbon Monroe Pike Drug and Alcohol won the small float division with “Scooby Doo Solving the Mystery of Addiction.” The Carbon County Fair queen’s float, “Dreams Really Do Come True,” finished second.

Cartesion Dance Academy was the top costumed walking group with its “Minions” routine. Mountain Karate placed second with “Monsters Aren’t Real, Bullies Are.”

Palmerton Junior High cheer took first among non-costumed walking groups, followed by Palmerton High School varsity cheer.

“I’ve been coming to this parade since I was a kid, and now I bring my grandkids,” Towamensing Township resident Tom Kistler said. “The music gets them every time. They were dancing on the curb for most of it.”

In the automotive division, a Black Beauty 2025 Chevrolet Colorado with a “Supporting Cancer Awareness” theme won first place among decorated vehicles. Art Grammes’ “Happy Halloween” entry finished first among non-decorated vehicles. Honorable mention went to the Palmerton High School homecoming entry.

“Our schools, community and neighboring partners packed music, art, dance and talent into every entry,” Recker said. “It’s an honor to be part of this each year, because there is absolutely no place like home.”