Several fundraisers have been scheduled so that the Lehighton Area Halloween Parade can attract more bands.

Sapore Restaurant in Lehighton held a dine-in/take-out fundraiser recently, with 10% of the proceeds going to the parade.

The committee also sold Easter flower tickets from More Pickles Please in Palmerton.

Julie Harris, chair of the Lehighton Halloween Parade Committee, said this marks the first year they’ve done fundraising.

Harris said several other fundraisers are set to be held, including a dine in or takeout May 5 at Mario’s Pizza in Weissport.

She said a dine in, takeout and delivery will be held July 17 at PJ Whelihan’s in Leighton.

Harris said three more fundraisers are in the works, including a ticket sale at Pizza Como; ticket sale for hoagies from Cindy’s Deli; and orders for Penn State stickies, with dates needing to be finalized.

She noted that the parade runs strictly on donations, and since 2020, has lost a lot of monetary support from businesses that either shut down or business owners who passed away.

“People always ask why we don’t have more bands in the parade; we need to have funds to have more bands,” Harris said. “That is our main goal of why we started doing this; so that we can book and confirm more bands for the parade.”

Harris said last year’s parade included the Lehighton “Indian Pride” Marching Band, the Allentown Almost “Hobo” Marching Band.

She said this year’s parade will once again feature those two bands, along with the Ceol Mor Pipe and Drum Band.

Any other bands or food vendors interested in performing in this year’s Halloween Parade may contact Erin at 570-807-4859

The 54th annual Lehighton Area Halloween Parade will be held at 4 p.m. Oct. 18. The rain date is 2 p.m. Oct. 19.

For more information, visit the Lehighton Area Halloween Parade’s Facebook page.