PAST EVENTS

PAST 2023 EVENTS BELOW:

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!

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!

 

****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 50^th 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.

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:

 

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!

 

 

 

2020 and 2021 presented itself with some unique challenges. Please know that your Halloween Committee is a small group of volunteers who worked hard to keep the Halloween spirit alive based on the donations received.

DRIVE-BY HALLOWEEN PARADE | 2021

For the children’s safety, our COVID-safe mini-parade continued from last year and started on SAT. OCT. 30, 2021 around 6:30 PM for around 2.5 hours. During this event, you could visit our facebook page @palmyrahalloweenparade to get live status updates. Many thanks to the Palmyra Police, Palmyra Fire Department volunteers, LED theatrics, and glow riders from 7Textures for making it possible! We hope to bring back the traditional Broad St. parade activities in 2022.

Click on the map below to zoom in/out. The line in orange is the route.

SCARECROW CONTEST | 2021

Click here to see contest rules. We had 11 judges who rated each scarecrow from 1 (not creative/original) to 5 (very creative/original). The scarecrows had a range of total average scores from 2.55 to 4.36 out of 5 maximum points. The top 3 winners, who will each receive a $50 gift certificate to The Fresh Produce store that was generously donated by Mayor Gina Tait, are:

“PEOPLE’s CHOICE” SCARECROWS

Additionally, folks were able to vote for their favorite scarecrow for the “People’s Choice” title online at https://forms.gle/AcDM17WTLvF61yf36  until Sun. Nov. 7th. 

NO HOUSE DECORATING CONTEST in 2021.

FROM OUR FRIENDS AT THE PALMYRA IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION for 2021:

All cars had to have a family friendly theme, decorate their trunk accordingly, and hand out candy to all attendees. Ghouls and goblins of their own could trick-or-treat for free! For those without a trunk, there was a $3 per child admission fee to the PIA to help support their activities that benefit the community. RAIN DATE: OCT. 23, 2021

BUG & CRITTER COUNT CONTEST | 2021

If you can count them up correctly, you’re in for a big prize! Print your sheet or stop in Top Notch Spot or Jeny’s Java to pick a printed copy and get counting! Winner will be announced November 2nd.

PALMYRA MINI DRIVE-BY HALLOWEEN PARADE (2020)

The Palmyra Halloween Parade group joined with the Palmyra Police and Fire Departments and hit the streets of Palmyra to continue our Halloween tradition in a COVID-safe manner! Thanks to donations, the Halloween Parade folks were able to bring our friends from 7 Textures to perform some fiery theatrics and glow riders! The festivities left the firehouse at 6:30 PM and headed to the river side of Palmyra by making a left out of the firehouse toward Elm, then crossed over Broad about 7:30 PM to reach the other side of town.

The Halloween Parade Committee of volunteers thanks the Borough of Palmyra for their continued support and contributions to the mini parade. We also like to extend a very special thank you to the Palmyra Fire Department, the Palmyra Police Department, and Palmyra business Theodore E. Mozer INC, Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication and Design. We couldn’t have done served our community in 2020 without your help.

1ST EVER SCARECROW DECORATING CONTEST (2020)

See the impressive scarecrows on Broad Street from the Palmyra Fire House to the corner of Morgan and Broad from 2020.

MOST CREATIVE SCARECROW WINNERS ON BROAD ST.:

• Train Conductor
• Crazy Cat Lady
• Hershey S’mores

“PEOPLE’S CHOICE” SCARECROW WINNER (80 of 449 total votes):
PURRsonal Space – South Jersey’s Cat Lounge

Prizes generously sponsored by Mayor Gina Tait and Joe Russel Restoration of Palmyra, NJ

Click here to see 2020 contest requirements.

HOUSE DECORATING CONTEST (2020)

Homes were judged on their “spooktacular” decoration displays. All entries were judged in the evening on either October 25^th, 26^th, or 27^th.   

1^st place prizes for each category were $100.

Over the Top for the families that go all out, such as inflatables

1st Place Winner: 732 Park Ave | 2nd Place Winner: 300 W. Henry Ave

 Classic for simple, fun, or elegant decorations
1st Place Winner: 7 Morgan Ave | 2nd Place Winner: 611 Front St

Prizes for the contest were generously donated by Mayor Gina Tait.

BUG CONTEST (2020)

Hosted by our friends in the Palmyra Business District, contact Jeny’s Java Joint if you have questions.

HALLOWEEN CRAFT FUN (2020)

Hosted by our friends at the Purrsonal Space Cat Lounge:

EVENTS BEFORE 2020:

Pumpkin Decorating at the Palmyra Farmers Market

Dine and Donate Fundraiser at Chipotle in Cinnaminson

Costume Swap We love this event! Drop off and/or pick up a Halloween Costume!  

PIA’s Trunk or Treat Hosted by our friends at the Palmyra Improvement Association.

Halloween House Decorating Contests

Monster Dash 5k run Fundraiser for the parade

Find the Sweatshirt Our super fun Halloween Parade hoodie was hiding in a Palmrya business waiting to be found and worn by the finder!

Masquerade Ball Proper dress encouraged! Another fun fundraiser held at Curran’s to raise awareness and funding for the parade.

This Year’s Palmyra Halloween Committee meetings:

For information on our parade planning meetings please email us at palmyrahalloween@gmail.com