NORWICH — This year, the long-running Norwich Family YMCA Halloween Parade and costume contest added a new element to the event. The YMCA and Norwich Business Improvement District (B.I.D.) have teamed up to host a Business and Home Halloween Decorating contest.

The annual YMCA Halloween Parade will begin at 11 a.m. on October 28 in conjunction with Saturday in the Park with Chobani. Halloween costumes, floats and decorated homes, yards and businesses will be judged for the winning best and announced at the awards ceremony following the parade on the Chenango County Courthouse steps.

The business and home decorating invitation goes out to schools, businesses, clubs, churches, organizations, marching bands, fire departments, families, and more. Anyone can be judged. Send a photo in email to trevoir@norwichymca.org.

YMCA Sport Director Tom Revoir said, “The parade starts from BeeBee Avenue. We usually have about 1000 participants lined up on several side streets off of South Broad Street, including Beebe Avenue, Francis Avenue, Hickok Avenue, Conkey Avenue, and Front Street.”