NORWICH – Ghouls and goblins will again haunt the streets of downtown Norwich this weekend as dozens of floats and costumed marchers join the annual Halloween parade.
The Norwich Family YMCA Halloween parade will step off at 2 p.m. Saturday. The time has been changed to take place later in the afternoon than in previous years in hopes of increasing attendance to the Pumpkin Festival’s evening events.
“Before there was a Pumpkin Festival, we had the parade. But since the festival began, more and more we are integrating the events together, which is good for both. The more successful the community’s events, the better for the community,” said parade organizer and Senior YMCA Program Director Tom Revoir.
The Norwich Halloween Parade has been a city tradition for more than 50 years and has been coordinated by the YMCA for the past 20. Organizers said they have over 20 floats registered for this year’s parade.
The parade takes place at the heart of Pumpkin Festival and participation is free. “Every year we look to draw more people to the parade and to Pumpkin Festival itself,” said YMCA parade organizer Julie Wallen.
The parade marchers will start from Beebe Avenue and step off from alternating streets up to Front Street, making their way up Broad Street through the center of town. They’ll finish in the parking lot behind Howard Johnson’s Hotel.
“Anyone willing to exercise their creativity and dedicate some time can participate in the parade,” said Revoir.
Revoir encourages schools and others participating in the event to stay in spirit of the holiday.
“We want people dressed up and enjoying the Halloween theme,” he said.
Revoir says the festival is his favorite of the year and is the largest child-family centered event held in the county.
The goal since its inception was to beat the world record for most jack-o-laterns in a location. The current record is held by the New Hampshire Town of Keene at around 30,000. The town is comparable in size to Norwich, said Revoir.
“With just over 50,000 people living in the county, if we could just get one out every two people to bring a pumpkin we could get our community into the record books. We just have to break it once,” he said.
The Academy Drum Corps and Drill Team of Cortright will again be in the parade this year. The Norwich High School Band will be unable to march because its members will be preparing for their trip to the Carrier Dome for state competition early Sunday morning.
At the end of the parade, judges will hand out awards in West Park, in front of the courthouse. Awards will be given for floats and costume categories. The judges will decide the best non-school float, school float, business float and best family float. The costumes can earn cash prizes for first, second or third place in the following areas: funniest, most original, spookiest, cutest and judge’s favorite costume. Halloween revelers can win multiple awards in different categories.
The judges’ booth will be set up in West Park. Anyone wishing to participate in the costume competition can line up on Front Street by the time the parade begins. Participants are requested to attach a piece of paper with a number clearly written on it so the judges can easily identify you.
Awards sponsors include NBT, the Norwich Elks Club, Norwich Rotary Club, Procter and Gamble, Prime Tool and Die, the Elizabeth and George Mead Charitable Foundation, the Law Offices of Frank Revoir Jr., Professional Teleconcepts, the Norwich Lioness Club and the Law Offices of Jim Cushman.