Nearly 100 costumed groups and individuals along with about 250 vehicles took part in the 2024 Boyertown Halloween Parade on Saturday, Oct. 19.
“People come from all over to enjoy this parade,” said Adriane Zapien, parade co-chairperson.
Hosted by the Boyertown Area Historical Society with more than 30 volunteers, this year’s parade was one of the longest in its history, running more than two and a half hours.
Der Gnom Kerneval, as the event was named when it began in 1912, is one of the oldest Halloween parades in the country.
“Since Boyertown was mostly a German area, they created Der Gnom Kerneval, calling it the Gnom Karneval — a Carnival for Gnomes” said Zapien. “Halloween was looked at very differently back in that time. It was a pagan holiday, and traditionally they did not celebrate evil things. This was a way to introduce a more Americanized version of the holiday.”
People lined the streets to watch this year’s parade. Popular themes included Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, Minions, and Oompa-Loompas.
“We have the widest genres of participants recorded in a parade,” Zapien said. “From all Boyertown sporting clubs, political floats, schooling events, ROTC, first responders, vehicle clubs — tractor to Jeeps, businesses, large fleets of towing trucks down to families just wanting to show their Halloween spirit.”
American Metal Finishers wowed the onlookers with their carnival complete with a bearded lady and strong man.
The Keystone Ghostbusters arrived with four vehicles and more than 25 ghosts and ghostbusters.
In its second Halloween parade of the day, Oley Valley Football Alliance portrayed scenes from Disney movies including “Beauty and the Beast,” “Toy Story,” “Cars,” “Moana,” “Frozen,” “Cinderella,” “101 Dalmatians,” and “The Little Mermaid.”
Dressed as Batman, the Joker, and the Riddler, members of F.E.A.R Bikers of MontCo hopped off their bikes to perform a fight. F.E.A.R. (Forget Everything And Ride) Bikers of MontCo is a group for bikers in and around Montgomery County.
Studios on Main performed as Willy Wonka and Oompa-Loompas.
More than $3,000 was awarded in prize money.
Participants were judged in five categories: Best Float, Best Marching Unit, Best Business Represented, Best Group Performance, and Most Creative Costume/Theme.
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For more information, visit https://boyertownhistory.org/boyertown-halloween-parade/ and www.facebook.com/BoyertownHalloweenParadeAssoc/.
