Charleroi cancels Halloween parade due to safety concerns

By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com

After announcing plans to move forward with the annual Halloween parade in Charleroi last week, organizers have had a change of heart after concerns they would not be able to enforce proper social distancing.
Charleroi Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Whiten Jr. said the department has organized the parade on behalf of the borough for more than 80 years.
During council’s workshop meeting last week, Whiten announced plans to move forward with the annual parade.
But last night, Council President Mark Alterici said plans have changed.
“After talking with Bobby and with COVID cases increasing, we have decided to cancel the Halloween parade,” Alterici said during council’s business meeting.
Whiten said the fire department is disappointed to break tradition but wants to err on the side of caution.
“This is the first time we have not had the parade in 80 years,” Whiten said. “It is a shame, but there is really not a way to enforce everyone not cramming together or having someone get sick and come back on the fire department.”
Though the Halloween parade won’t happen, the borough unanimously agreed Wednesday to host a homecoming parade for Charleroi area seniors.
Councilwoman Heidi Cramer said the homecoming parade has been a decades-old tradition.
“There has been a homecoming parade as long as I can remember,” she said. “It has been a tradition in our town for years.”
Each year, Charleroi seniors on the homecoming court are escorted through town by area fire departments, the police department and the marching band.
This year, citing concerns for COVID-19 and potential liability issues, the school district opted to not have the parade.

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