City Halloween parade Friday

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Fact Box

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Halloween Parade of Costumes

WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Forms at Pine Street United Methodist Church, 410 Pine St.

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

Ghouls and goblins will take over the night this week as local communities hold trick-or-treating hours. But even scary creatures need to be safe and celebrate Halloween right.

Halloween's greatest hazards aren't vampires and villains, but falls, costume mishaps and automobile collisions. The Bradford-Sullivan Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross wants families to have a safe Halloween by following these tips:

Map out the route that you plan to roam, so adults are assured you will find your way home.

From the bravest of superheroes to the noblest of knights, everyone should remember to bring their flashlights.

If you visit a house where a stranger resides, accept treats at the door but, please, don't go inside.

When you get ready to put on your disguise, use face paint instead of masks, which will cover your eyes.

Always remember, before you embark, to wear light-colored clothing to be seen in the dark. Use reflective tape, even on bikes, skateboards and brooms.

Whether you walk, slither or sneak, do it on the sidewalks and not in the street.

As you roam through the neighborhood collecting your treats, please look both ways before crossing the street. And, cross from the corner.

Wigs, capes and costumes are flammable attire, so avoid open flames to prevent a fire.

Use a glow stick instead of a candle so your jack-o-lantern isn't a safety gamble.

You may fly on a broom or a space ship from Mars, but please be on the lookout for drivers in cars. Don't hide between parked vehicles.

Monsters and zombies should stay off the lawn, and only visit homes with their porch lights turned on.

You may be dressed as a werewolf, a cat or a frog, but be cautious around strange animals, especially dogs.

Have a grown-up inspect your candy when you're done trick-or-treating to remove open packages and choking hazards before eating.

For more information from the American Red Cross, contact The Bradford Sullivan Counties Chapter at 265-2797 or visit its Web site at http://bradford-sullivan.redcross.org.

The Williamsport Business Association will hold its fourth annual Halloween Parade of Costumes at 6 p.m. Friday, beginning at the Pine Street United Methodist Church, 410 Pine St., and moving along West Fourth Street.

Organizations and children of all ages who wish to dress in costume may join in the event - including pets, according to parade coordinator Denyse Miele, co-owner of Gustonian Gifts, 30 W. Third St.

The parade will end at the parking lot between Woodland Bank and The Bullfrog Brewery on West Fourth Street.

At the conclusion of the parade, Miele said children will be welcome to go trick-or-treating at specified downtown businesses and restaurants marked with "Happy Halloween" flyers in their windows.

Miele described the parade as a safe event that allows the community and children to dress up in costume and go trick-or-treating.

"There were a lot of awesome costumes last year," Miele said. "It was amazing."

What seemed to draw a larger crowd last year was the allowance of having pets walk in the parade for the first time, Miele said.

Next year, Miele said she'd like to amp up the parade to something a little bit larger, with floats and more organized entries and divisions.

Ron Fleeger will provide outside entertainment, she said, as well as the distribution of prizes to parade participants.

Those who would like to participate should meet at the Pine Street United Methodist Church between 5:30 and 5:45 p.m. Friday.

No registration is required, Miele said, other than filling out a form to qualify for prizes.

Trick-or-Treat hours

Trick-or-treat activities will be held at assorted times Saturday throughout the region. Following are the times by community:

5 to 7 p.m. - Mansfield, Mainesburg, Sullivan Township.

6 to 8 p.m. - Williamsport, Loyalsock Township, South Williamsport, Old Lycoming Township, Montoursville, Muncy, Hughesville, Jersey Shore, Mill Hall, Bald Eagle Township, Blossburg, Liberty, Wellsboro, Elkland, Chatham, Hamilton Township, Tioga, Lawrenceville, Westfield, Putnam Township.

6:30 to 8 p.m. - Montgomery.

6 to 9 p.m. - Lock Haven.

Haunted attractions

Haunted temptations lurk in the hills of northcentral Pennsylvania. Following is a sampling:

Terror at Bowman Field, 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Bowman Field.

White Deer Pike Hayride and Haunted Trail beginning at the Faith Chapel United Methodist Church, 2155 White Deer Pike, New Columbia, 7 p.m. Friday.

Liberty's Haunted House will be open from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The Chatham Fire Department will hold haunted hayrides from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Friday at the Little Marsh Fire Hall.

Elkland Fire Department will hold a hayride and haunted fire house, from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Parades

In addition to Williamsport's downtown costume parade, a number of other communities plan marches to observe the holiday this weekend. They include:

Liberty - 6 p.m. Friday.

Milton - Milton's Main Street Program will host a Halloween Costume Parade and Contest at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The parade will form at the Lincoln Park Gazebo, Front Street and Broadway and proceed to the Milton Moose Family Center. Refreshments will be provided as judging takes place in the second floor reception hall at the Moose. The event will conclude with a visit to the Milton Model Train Museum, located on the third floor of the Moose.

Blossburg - The parade will form at 5 p.m. Saturday by the former Blossburg Ambulance Building at the corner of Hannibal and Morris streets. The parade will proceed west on Hannibal Street, then turn right onto Main Street and proceed north to the new Fire and Ambulance Building, 324 Main St., where the judging of costumes will take place.

Muncy - Halloween Parade, from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, will begin at Gerringer Social Hall on North Main Street and travel south before turning right onto West Penn Street to the high school.

Wellsboro - 5:30 p.m. Saturday, downtown Wellsboro.

Montgomery - 6 p.m. Saturday. Parade forms at Weis Markets parking lot and ends at the American Legion on Broad Street.

Other events

South Williamsport - From 3 to 6 p.m. today, American Legion Post 617, 901 S. Market St., will host a costume party. Prizes will be awarded for the best dressed, most original, funniest, scariest and ugliest. Entertainment will be provided by The Ruff Life Band. The Legion is open to members and qualified guests.

Mainesburg - At 5 p.m. Saturday, the Bakerburg Community Church will hold a Fall Festival, at the church located on Gray Valley Road. Children are encouraged to wear costumes of Bible characters or animals from Noah's Ark. For more information, call the church at 549-8129.

Picture Rocks - From 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, the Picture Rocks Borough Building, 13 N. Main St., will be open to serve children cider and doughnuts.

Wellsboro - An on-going pumpkin carving contest sponsored by the First Heritage Federal Credit Union and hosted by the Chamber of Commerce's retail committee is taking place this week.

A cash prize will be awarded to the best pumpkin in each age category, 7 and under, 8-12, 13-17 and 18 and over.

Participants must fill out an entry form and return it to the chamber office. Carved pumpkins will be displayed in participating downtown merchants' windows. Winners will be notified.