The rain did not dampen the spirits of everyone who came out to enjoy the Lehighton Fire Department’s 150th Anniversary Parade on Saturday.

“Look, here come the fire trucks!” exclaimed 6-year-old Jordan Rehrig, of Lehighton, who was watching the parade with his family.

Men, women, children, and pets all braved the damp weather to watch the eight-division parade that featured at least 29 area fire companies, nine bands, and a variety of area businesses and civic organizations.

The four Grand Marshals of the parade were four LAFD members who have served 50 or more years with the department: Wayne Nothstein, Paul Mriss, Gary Frable and Larry Diehl.

The Lehighton Police Department lead the parade, followed by the Lehighton United Veterans Organization Color Guard, the Lehighton Fire Department Marching Unit, and the Lehighton Area High School Indian Pride Marching Band and Cheerleaders.

The Lehighton Fire Department’s fire equipment was next, led by the newly-dedicated Ladder Truck 523, the new Brush Truck 546 and Boat 572.

Fire companies from near and far joined the festivities, including Mahoning Valley, Franklin Township, Bowmanstown, East Penn Township, Aquashicola, Palmerton, Jim Thorpe, Tamaqua, Ashland, Walnutport, Parryville, Friedens, Nesquehoning, Lower Towamensing Township, New Ringgold & East Brunswick Township, Lansford, Coaldale, Plainfield Township, West End Fire Dept and St. Clair Fire Department, Walnuttown, Polk Township, Northampton, Tuscarora, Emerald, Summit Hill, Weatherly, Slatington, Lake Harmony, and West Penn Township.

The historic nature of the parade was showcased in several antique and classic fire apparatus.

The Lehighton Fire Department had a Hose Cart drawn by members of the Middle School Emergency Services Club Members.

A 1949 Seagrave pumper currently under restoration was carried by a trailer.

Community Fire Co. of New Ringgold had their 1946 Howe Engine and a 1973 Seagrave Engine.

Citizens Fire Company of Weatherly had a 1945 Seagrave engine 750/350.

Mahoning Valley Fire Company Fire Chief Jay Michalik drove their 1936 Hahn fire engine, a truck that was refurbished in 2014 with the help of the Carbon Career and Technical Institute. It was the very first piece of fire apparatus the fire company purchased when it was formed in 1951.

The Lehighton High School Indian Pride Band and Cheerleaders were the first of nine bands, which include Hawk Mountain Highlanders Pipe Band, Jim Thorpe Olympian Marching Band, Lehighton Band, James Ferko String Band, Rajah String Band, Northwestern Lehigh High School Tiger Band from New Tripoli, MacKay Pipe Band of Bethlehem, and the Allentown Hobo Band.

Other entries in the parade were a van from Tails of Valor Service Dogs, Boy Scouts Troop 8 from Parryville, Lehighton Area Girl Scouts, and Lehighton Booster Club Football Players and Cheerleaders.

Dance with Kim had a large contingent marching, and featured separate cars for Cassie Hager, 2024 Senior Dancer of the Year; Kylie Steward, 2024 Junior Dancer of the Year; and Belle Hascin, 2024 Most Improved Dancer of the Year.

The parade made its way through town ending up at the Community Grove at Eighth and Iron streets where the everyone enjoyed food and entertainment around the park. Supersonic Godfathers performed, and Layne “Doc” Roberts from Colossal Radio was on hand with more music.

On Sunday morning, members of the Lehighton Fire Department placed the flower baskets that were on the trucks for the parade on the grave sites of the individuals that the apparatus were dedicated to on Thursday evening. An additional flower basket was placed at the firefighters monument for those individuals that do not have grave sites.

The new Ladder Truck 523 was dedicated in memory of Fire Chief Edward J. Conarty, Captain William Moser, Captain William Eberts, Captain Nevin Reichard, and Captain Kenneth Nothstein.

The new Brush Truck 546 was dedicated in memory of Lieutenant David Kuhla and Lieutenant Donald Schnell.

Boat 572 was dedicated in memory of Assistant Fire Chief Dwight Nothstein and Lieutenant James Hauser.