Last Wednesday evening, October 30, as a perfect night for a parade as temperatures started in the lower 70s when the 77th annual Hancock Rotary Halloween Parade kicked off at 7 p.m. and by parade’s end, were in the mid 60s.
Aside from a fire call early in the parade that saw first responders from Hancock Fire Company and Hancock Rescue Squad pull their apparatus out of line, the parade went off without a hitch.
People began lining Main Street as early as 5 p.m. to find the perfect spot to watch 50 entries make their way down Main Street.
The parade lasted just short of an hour.
Entries included bands from Hancock Middle/Senior High School, E. Russell Hicks Middle School, and Southern Fulton Junior/Senior High School.
Businesses, families, and organizations had Halloween inspired floats with Beetlejuice, an alien, Monsters Inc., monsters, scouts, ABC’s, Broadway playbooks, and more.
One staple over the course of the parade’s history has been classic vehicles and tractors.
There was a 1965 Dodge Dart, 1966 Plymouth Valiant, a 2013 Scion with underglow lighting, and few classic tractors from the Washington County Antique Tractor Club and Martin Harvey.
Area first responders were well represented with apparatus and units from Hancock Police Department, Hancock Fire Company, Hancock Rescue Squad, McConnellsburg Volunteer Fire Company, Orleans Volunteer Fire Company, Needmore Volunteer Fire Company, and Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company.
Hancock Rotary, on social media, announced the winners of the parade.
Family entires:
1st: MacDowell Family – “Monsters Inc.”
2nd: Watson Family – “Halloween”
3rd: Bev Forshey – “Halloween”
Antique/Callsic Cars:
1st: Ronald Hunt – 1965 Dodge Dart
2nd: Tim Haulman – 1966 Plymouth Valiant
3rd: Martin Harvey – 1965 Mack Truck
Floats
1st: Girl Scout Troop #15055 – “Girl Scouts on Broadway”
3rd: (Tie) Good Shepherd Preschool – “ABC is Easy as 123”/ Cub Scouts Pack #45 – “Wild in Scouting”
Football
1st: Hancock Flag Football
Cheerleaders
1st: Hancock Flag Football Cheerleaders
Tractors
1st: Martin Harvey – 1948 Farm-all Tractor
Majorettes
1st: Silver Starlettes
Classic cars, such as this 1965 Dodge Dart from Ronald Hunt, were a hit with parade goers.Good Shepherd Preschool was rocking the ABC’s being easy as 123 during the Halloween Parade.Hancock Middle-Senior High School gave folks their first taste of marching bands in the Halloween Parade and a little later, Southern Fulton Junior-Senior High School came dressed in their costumes for another round of marching band music.After a couple years away from the parade, the Western Maryland Forty Eight, the Voiture 651 Locomotive entered by Brenda Douglas, made its return the Hancock Halloween Parade. Shortly before the parade started, the town was filled with the sound of the tiny canon atop the engine. They would fire it occasionally as they went through town.Southern Fulton Junior-Senior High School came dressed in their costumes for another round of marching band music.As the sun set in the west, folks from all around started to line Main Street to await the start of the 77th annual Hancock Rotary Halloween Parade last Wednesday, October 30.Hancock Middle-Senior High School gave folks their first taste of marching bands in the Halloween Parade.For the first time in 44 years, Dan Murphy was not the Rotary Parade Chairman and was given a seat of prominence on the Rotary International float with a “Thank you” banner behind him.This pooch got to tag along for a ride in the Halloween Parade.Fire and rescue apparatus from Orleans (pictured), Hancock, McConnellsburg, Needmore, and Berkeley Springs showed off the pride of the first responders. Early in the parade, Hancock units were called into action for an incident on Tollgate Ridge.Sully, Mike Wazowski, Randall, and a CDA Agent were ready go through the closet door to find Boo thanks to the MacDowell Family.Atlantic Off-Road gave a bit of a fright to folks with a gigantic spider on a vintage pick up truck.A staple in the Halloween Parade is always the Shriners Sayara Unit Tin Lizzies. They were driving around Main Street blowing their horns and sirens to the delight of those along Main Street.Near the very end of the parade, there was an LED truck that listed parade sponsors on the back. On the sides of the truck, people along the parade route got to see themselves broadcast on both sides of the trailer.The Magic School Bus was taking kids to the Big House Babysitter at the Halloween Parade.Girl Scout Troop #15127 was telling the folks along Main Street that Girl Scouts are more than their cookies as the organization builds leaders and character.Covalt Painting was out of this world with their float as they had an alien waving to folks on their float.They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway and Girl Scout Troop #15055 are showing that to be true with Play Bills from various Broadway shows.The Hancock Flag Football teams joined forces to take part in the Halloween Parade last Wednesday night.Classic tractors made their way down Main Street as part of the Halloween Parade.Oh the places you will go in Girl Scouts! Girl Scout Troop #80338 had a Dr. Seuss themed float with the Cat in the Hat driving the tractor.Green lights this jeep has! The Morgan County Jeepers were strong with the Force during the Hancock Rotary Halloween Parade last Wednesday night as the wise Yoda rode atop one of their jeeps.The Harvey Family 1965 Mack Truck, adorned with a “Back the Blue” flag, made its way up Main Street during the Halloween Parade.The Hancock American Legion sponsored a Kids Halloween Party and wanted to let folks know as some friendly witches waved at everyone. photos by Geoff FoxThe Watson Family brought the Halloween feel to the parade with their float.
