This year’s Greater Northern Lehigh Halloween Parade will remain canceled this year, even if a local legislator is successful in securing a permit.

State Rep. Zach Mako posted that his office was notified when the public was notified via social media post that the Northern Lehigh Parade has been canceled due to a lack of PennDOT permit.

“Upon learning this, I immediately reached out to PennDOT and am working to secure the permit,” Mako said. “I look forward to this annual event just like everyone else in the community.”

One of the organizers Tiffany Rehrig-Schaeffer said Monday that each year, they need to submit a special events permit to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for the parade. Along with the permit application, she said they need to provide letters of approval from Slatington, Walnutport, and Washington Township. A copy of their certificate of insurance, and maps detailing the parade and detour routes.

Rehrig-Schaeffer said that the Special Events Permit application and supporting documents was submitted to PennDOT.

“We have not heard back from them regarding the permit application,” Rehrig-Schaeffer said. “If the permit application is approved, then we know we can move forward with planning the parade’s return for next year.

“The Events Committee appreciates Representative Mako’s efforts and if the permit is approved, we will begin working immediately for the parade to return next year since a new detour will require additional volunteers and planning. The event will remain canceled for this year.”

The Northern Lehigh Events Committee posted on its Facebook page Aug. 20 that a lack of state approval for its proposed new detour due to a bridge project has resulted in the cancellation of this year’s parade.

Rehrig-Schaeffer posted at that time, “As we grow ever closer to the witching hour, we don’t want to leave our participants hanging, so the decision has been made to cancel the parade for 2024. If we find out our detour has been approved, we’ll begin working on resuming the parade for 2025; if not, we’ll continue to explore other options but we may have to pause until the Walnut Street bridge project has been completed.

“No one is more disappointed about this decision than our committee is, but we need to make sure there is a safe and viable detour available during the parade. We appreciate the support and understanding of the Northern Lehigh community and look forward to the parade’s return.”

Rehrig-Schaeffer said the decision to cancel the parade was difficult.

“The Northern Lehigh Events Committee has been planning and organizing the annual parade for almost 10 years, so the decision to pause this year’s event is not one that we take lightly,” Rehrig-Schaeffer said. “But, it’s our responsibility to provide a safe and viable detour route during the parade, and with the abrupt closing of the Walnut Street bridge in Slatington, we don’t want to rush or push for a detour that is unsafe.

“We understand the disappointment of the community, but it’s impossible to be more disappointed than us. So, we are going to focus on the positive and plan to sponsor other events this season like the return of our Haunt Your House decorating contest and a scavenger hunt. We remain hopeful that the parade will be able to return next year.”

The Palmerton Halloween Parade posted on social media inviting Northern Lehigh participants to become involved in the Palmerton parade on Oct. 20.

The Walnut Street bridge was closed in June and will remain shut down until it has been replaced.

The Lehigh County engineer said the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation had inspected the bridge and found structural failures.