Safety concerns prompt new rules for Halloween Parade

Trucks, tractors, cars, and golf carts supporting costumed characters and floats proceed down the road as children and families excitedly cheer and grab for candy on the sideline. For local residents, the scene could only represent the annual Halloween Parade. The parade has been a town tradition for almost 40 years. However, as it grows in popularity and size, safety becomes an ever more important concern. Charlotte Shelburne Rotary Club, which organizes the parade, wrote new guidelines for this year’s event, which will be held on Sunday, Oct. 26, to focus on the safety of all concerned.

Primarily candy, or more specifically, the tradition of throwing candy from the floats and the cars and golf carts, creates a hazardous situation. As the candy flies through the air, much of it lands on the road, just out of the reach of the children, who dart into the road to collect the treats.

New guidelines were introduced this year to prevent such potentially dangerous situations. They state, “No candy or other objects may be thrown from floats or other vehicles traveling in the parade route… All floats/vehicles desiring to distribute candy shall have not less than two adults walking beside/ahead of them to keep the route clear of candy – these people may toss/distribute the candy so long as it is distributed out of the roadway.”

The Rotary Club also introduced a short but mandatory driver safety briefing before the parade to go over proper spacing of the floats, the candy tossing rules, and general parade safety.

Rotary welcomes all floats to the Shelburne Halloween Parade. All that they ask is that anyone who wants to enter a float register with Rotarian Judith Christensen, chair of the float committee, by emailing her at jachrist@uvm.edu. All that is necessary to pre-register is the title of the float, the name and contact information of an adult, and the name of the group that created the float.

Any size float created by an individual, a family, a neighborhood, a scout group, or a 4-H group, and the like will be happily greeted at the Shelburne Shopping Plaza at 1pm on Sunday. Just line up as you arrive and sign in with Christensen. Judging usually begins at 1:30pm and the parade starts at 2pm. The trophies will be awarded at the Fire Station around 3pm. The floats are judged on originality and creativity.

Come and have fun. You may reach Christensen at jachrist@uvm.edu or 985-2034 with any questions or for pre-registration.