Ghouls and goblins and princesses and pirates, along with assorted flowers and bugs and animals, made their way down Main Street in Royersford for the 56th annual Halloween Parade on Monday night.
Hundreds of spectators, bundled in coats and blankets on one of the first chilly evenings of a mild fall, lined the street to watch the parade.
Prior to the start of the parade, Royersford businessman Wilson Christman welcomed the crowd. He thanked the parade sponsors, the Royersford Business Association and Royersford Lions Club, as well as all the people who made donations to support the Halloween event.
Christman also recognized the parade guides and captains, along with Tom’s Auto Service, which supplied the flat bed for the parade judges; C&J Auto Detailing, which provided space for the judges’ stand, and Allen Giaquinto Jr., who donated the chairs for the judges.
“It takes a good many people to make this thing work,” Christman said. “Welcome, and have a good time. Let’s enjoy it,” he concluded.
Leading off the parade was a Royersford police car, followed by Mayor Dave Urner on a motorcycle. Next in line was the color guard from the Royersford Veterans of Foreign Wars Post.
The Spring-Ford Middle School Marching Unit, with some members in costume hats and painted faces, followed. The 59 musicians and nine color guard members performed the overture from the musical Tommy.
Later, the award-winning Spring-Ford High School Golden Rams Marching Unit performed three numbers from this year’s field show, a “Farewell to the Old Country.” The 110-member band last year won first place in their division in the Atlantic Coast Tournament of Bands championships, Spring-Ford’s first Atlantic Coast title.
Several groups participated in the parade, including Dragon Star Martial Arts, Cub Scout Pack 231 of Sacred Heart Church, Star Attraction twirlers, the Lower Perk Longhorns football team and cheerleaders, Spring City Brownie Troop 7253, the Spring-Ford Chamber of Commerce and Spring-Ford High School Girls Volleyball Team.
Royersford Public Library Storytime was represented with a “Spin a Story” theme as several children and adults walked by dressed as spiders.
Among the many individual costumed characters were also several small groups, such as the group portraying the life cycle of a butterfly. The three blind mice paraded along, complete with dark sunglasses and canes.
Parade winners are numbers 105, 108, 112, 113, 114, 123, 124, 125, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 137, 141, 142, 144, 163, 164, 166, 168, 169, 170, 172, 173, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 187, 188, 189, 190, 193, 194, 197.
And, 200, 202, 221, 222, 230, 231, 232, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 242, 300, 301, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 314, 315, 319, 320, 322, 325, 326, 327, 328, 330, 331, 332, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 348.
Also, 350, 351, 352, 354, 357, 358, 359, 362, 363, 365, 366, 370, 371, 400, 401, 402, 404, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 424, 425, 500, 505, 506, 508, 509, 510, 511, 514 and 516.
Prizes may be picked up at Christman Jewelers, 352 Main St., Royersford. Any questions, call 610-948-9220.
“Thank you for participating in our parade and making it a success,” said Jan Jackowski, one of the parade organizers.
Jackowski also noted that she is looking for Eisenhower dollars to continue the parade tradition of presenting a dollar coin to the winners. Anyone willing to trade dollars is asked to call Jackowski at Christman Jewelers, 610-948-9220.