The rain held off and the streets filled with the colorful and unusual for the 56th Annual Tamaqua Halloween Parade held Tuesday evening and sponsored by the Tamaqua Lions Club.

The four-division, two-hour spectacle featured a variety of individual spooks, along with floats, music, youth groups, businesses and organizations.

“I cannot believe how every year the parade gets bigger and more elaborate,” said organizer Brian Keich.

The event stepped off at the east end of Tamaqua at 7 p.m. at the former Jamesway Shopping Center and soon filled Route 209 all the way to the town’s far west end.

Volunteers from the Tamaqua Wireless Association coordinated the pacing, working in tandem with Tamaqua Fire Police and others.

Many of the marchers and those riding on floats tossed candy to eager youngsters.

Thousands of spectators filled the sidewalks along the entire parade route.

They included the Dan Reigel family. Reigel, a local plumber, treated family and friends to pizza, both plain and pepperoni, at his business establishment on the unit block of West Broad.

“We always like to do this,” said his wife Carol.

As usual, elaborate floats stole the show, along with performances by dance troupes, and the Tamaqua Area High School Raider Marching Band which featured members dressed in costume.

Keich announced that cash award amounts were enhanced for 2022.

“Due to recent inflation and all the hard work that goes into planning and preparing these floats, I am increasing the prize money for the parade.”

A top prize of $250 will be awarded, followed by $200 for best float and marchers, and $100 for second place winners and $75 for third.

“Thanks to our sponsor, Mauch Chunk Trust for making this possible,” said Keich

The judges’ votes and final tallies were being prepared at press time. Keich said early Wednesday that he hoped to have results posted shortly on the Tamaqua Halloween Parade Facebook page.

The judges’ stand was located in the center of the 100 block of West Broad Street with announcing done by radio personalities Ann Marie Calabrese and Polka Joe Manjack.

“This is the best spot because all of the marching groups do their thing here,” Calabrese said.

The parade route remained dry and only a light mist began to fall near the end of the event.