Palmyra Halloween Parade

YOU’RE INVITED!

This webpage is updated often until the week after the parade. Please refresh your browser to view updates.

REGISTRATION:

Floats/groups, click here to be part of the parade.

Click here to enter the costume contest and walk in the parade.

Click here to enter your pet to the virtual pet costume contest.

Click here to enter your home the Palmyra House Decorating contest.

Sponsor the parade by clicking here to complete it online (or download the PDF).

EVENT DETAILS:

All registered participants are guaranteed a spot for a memorable pin, candy, and a chance to win prizes!

Special shout-out to Divincenzos Pizza and Bacio’s Kitchen + Catering for donating at least a $100 worth of gift cards! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

THANK YOU ERIC STONER FOR VOLUNTEERING TO TAKE PROFESSIONAL PICS ON DAY OF PARADE!

2023 Parade Grand Marshall Tom McElwee

We are happy to announce that Palmyra’s very own Tom McElwee will serve as the Grand Marshall who will lead this year’s parade.

Tom was born and raised in Palmyra, attended Palmyra Public Schools and still lives here today. After graduating in 1964 he quickly joined the US Coast Guard later that year on November 11, 1964 (Veteran’s Day). After completing training camp Tom was assigned to what seemed to be a safe place until he found himself on his way to South Vietnam. He spent the next 9 months cruising on a Swift Boat supplied by the US Navy. He then came back from Vietnam to Norfolk where he spent the rest of enlistment on the Cutler Chincoteague patrolling the East Coast.

After his enlistment, Tom entered the working class with for many years. He married, had 2 daughters and has always been involved in our community here in Palmyra ever since, especially when it came to our war hero’s.

His interest in the Yellow Ribbon Club in 2003 gives him the opportunity to make impactful contributions to our soldiers in the Middle East. Endless efforts to provide nonperishable packages to our men and women overseas makes him a hero in yet another form.

He also is a founding member Beverly National Cemetery Avenue of Flags. A 60-year member of the American Legion, serving as a member and trustee of Jersey Boys State and as County Commander 1982-1983.

Back home, Tom is also the Founding Member and President of Palmyra War Memorial Committee for the past 15 years. His efforts to bring the community together to honor our soldiers past and current are part of Palmyra’s history and Tom helps to keep this history rich and plentiful. So much work goes into Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and we can’t thank him enough for making it happen year after year.

Because of Tom’s endless volunteer efforts to Veterans, Soldiers, and our Palmyra Community, Tom Elway was our obvious choice for this year’s Grand Marshall!

Thanks, Tom! You are a valuable member of our community, and we appreciate all that you do!

Special visit from our Sesame Street friends!

SPONSOR THIS YEAR’S PARADE!

Sponsorships are needed, and we will acknowledge you before, during, and after the parade, on social media, + in the Burlington County Times!

****PAST 2022 EVENTS BELOW ************************************************************************

Thank you all for an AMAZING comeback! Your parade committee reached out for sponsors and donations and sought out the crème de la crème professional and local talent entertainers and groups to WOW you.

Around 7 PM, the parade travelled along Broad St. from the Main/Broad St. intersections in Riverton, NJ to Legion Park in Palmyra, NJ.

2022 Parade Grand Marshall Anthony Fratto:

The Grand Marshall for 2022 who led the parade was the Palmyra Halloween Parade Committee’s very own, Anthony Fratto of Anthony Jewelers! Thank you, Anthony for years of dedication to Palmyra and the Halloween Committee.

Who remembers when the Halloween Parade started at the Nuway Shopping Center that used to be at Broad and Fulton Streets?  Anthony does! He was the chairman of the Halloween Parade back then, having contributed to the celebration for years.   He and Joe Tomarccio of JT’s Vac and Sew, initiated the “Bug Count Contest” more than 20 years ago!  Anthony stepped-up back in 2012 to join the current committee and has been a valuable volunteer every year since.  To celebrate Anthony and his commitment to our town and this parade we are thrilled to have him as our Grand Marshall this year.

But his service to our town doesn’t stop with the tradition of this town’s parade.

Anthony Fratto is the second of three generations which have owned and operated Anthony Jewelers since it began in 1953.  And like his family members before, he too has been heavily involved in Palmyra for many years. 

Many moons ago Palmyra had the Business and Community Alliance, a group of business owners joined together to not only help create a thriving business district which the town needed but also to create a partnership with the community.  The group later became the Palmyra Business Improvement District, and they continued their dedication to the business district.   Anthony was President of both these organizations as well as serving on the Palmyra Economic Development /committee.  His endless efforts were commendable.

Anthony & Joe Tommarccio also joined forces to organize the Palmyra Day Festival back in the 1980’s, over 30 years ago, a fun tradition for the town that still carries on.

And let’s not forget the clock in front of their store, Anthony dedicated the clock back in 2003 for their 50th anniversary and it will continue to give character to Broad Street for years to come!

All parade participants received a collectible pin shown below on parade night, as supplies last. Floats/groups won $50 or $100 worth of gift cards or cash.

Venmo us or click here to join as a sponsor to support next year’s parade and contests!

Donations and sponsorships are essential for us to offer you the annual Halloween Parade, including fun activities and prizes throughout October.

About Us

The Halloween Parade Committee is a small group of volunteers who work together to fundraise, plan, and implement the annual Halloween parade among other activities. While we are open to new ideas, volunteers to create and implement events (new or old) are always needed! The group is not responsible for trick-or-treating decisions in Palmyra or Riverton, NJ.

We met at 7 PM on Wednesdays in October at the Palmyra Community Center. Interested in helping next year? Email palmyrahalloween@gmail.com

SCROLL DOWN FOR 2022 EVENT DETAILS:

Support our local volunteer firefighters in Palmyra!

DINE @ FRIENDLY’S

10/13, 4:30 to 8:30 PM

20% off your check will go towards our parade!

PIA’s Trunk or Market | Fri. 10/1, 5 – 8 PM

The Palmyra Improvement Association (PIA) has combined the best of both events, market/food trucks and trunk-or-treat, into one fun evening! Support small businesses, dine from renowned food trucks, enjoy the music, and the popular annual Trunk or Treat! Contact: maureenbrz@yahoo.com

Unfortunately, our professionals could not attend the event, but we hope everyone was able to stop by our decorated trunk for pictures to remember the fun night. It was PAY-WHAT-YOU-WISH ($10 suggested donation per group) to help support the Halloween Parade on Broad St.

PHSFEE’s Annual Casino Night | Sat. 10/15, 6:30 -11 PM @Sacred Heart Church, Riverton

Try your luck at the Palmyra High School Foundation for Educational Excellence (PHSFEE) annual fundraising event to support Palmyra High School departments, including the arts and science.

The $65 ticket/person for casino night includes food catered by Sweet Lucy’s BBQ, beer and wine.

A lucky person could also win the 50/50 raffle ($2,900 as of 10/11). $5 per raffle ticket or 25 tickets for $100 are sold at Parker’s Flower Shop. Contact: Chris Murnane at (856) 905-6388

Help us make Broad St. festive, showcase your work for all to see during the Halloween Parade, and win prizes for having the Most Creative Scarecrow!

Click here to read the contest rules.

Help make Palmyra the best decorated town! Click here to view wildlife and pet safe decorating tips. Homes will be judged by their “spooktacular” decoration displays.

Although registration is now closed, you can click here to see a map of the houses!

Go to our Palmyra Halloween Facebook page and VOTE/LIKE for your favorite Over the Top and Classic homes by 10 AM, Sun.. 10/30). A ”like” is a vote and you can vote for as many as you’d like! Share away and we encourage you to check these houses out in person – they are AWESOME!

Click here to view the Riverton Winners!

Riverton residents had to email their decorated house photos by 10/21 to Councilwoman Major at LMajor@Riverton-NJ.com.