Monsters on Main Street

This year’s Cortland Halloween Parade has adopted a “Monster Mash” theme, with prizes for the Best Monster in each age category, as well as prizes for Cutest, Most Original, and Scariest costumes. The October 29 parade starts at 6:15pm on Main Street in Cortland and ends at the Downtown Cortland Repertory Theatre for final judging and costume contest awards.  Last year, over 300 children registered in the parade and costume contest judging and over 200 children participated in the downtown Trick-or-Treating hour preceding the parade.  Downtown businesses will be handing out treats again this year.

All Cortland County children under 18 are invited to participate whether or not they wish to compete in the costume contest. The parade lineup begins at 6:00pm at the beginning of one-way Main Street, with anticipated parade start at 6:15. Those wishing to participate in the costume contest are asked to pre-register or to register at the event to receive their contestant paddle and number for judging. Costume Contest registration forms are now available at several locations in Cortland, including SUNY Cortland Main Street located at 9 Main Street,  Nancy’s Bridal and Prom, 17 Main Street, Cortland Repertory Theatre, The Local Food Market, and Magpie Handcrafted Treasures and Curiosities at 75 E. Court Street. Visit Cortland Halloween Parade on Facebook to download a registration form.  Registration and check-in the day of the parade takes place at the Cortland Elks Lodge #748, 9 Groton Avenue.

The parade will be escorted by Cortland Elks volunteers and “glow riders”- bicyclists involved with the SUNY Cortland Community Bike Project. The group will light the way with glowing bikes and special bike floats that competed in a contest for best bike the previous week.

This year’s parade is made possible through the collaboration of the Cortland Elks, Cortland Downtown Partnership’s Promotions Committee, Downtown Cortland Repertory Theatre, Cortland High School Link Crew, and the SUNY Cortland Community Bike Program. Volunteers from several SUNY Cortland organizations will be assisting with the parade. Funds to purchase prizes for the costume contest will be raised at an October 16 Spaghetti Dinner at the Cortland Elks Lodge from 5:00 – 8:00pm.

Call 607.299.4682 or email info@cortlanddowntown.com with questions, donations, volunteer opportunities, and for parade registration forms. Forms will also be distributed through Cortland schools and throughout central locations in the county. Visit Cortland Halloween Parade on Facebook for updates.

PARADE ACTIVITIES AND TIMELINE:

5:00 – 6:00pm

• Trick or treating downtown.

• Registration and check-in for the contest judging at Cortland Elks Lodge, 9 Groton Avenue.

6:00pm

• Parade lines up at top of one-way Man Street.

6:15pm

• Parade starts and travels down Main Street, turns left onto Court Street, and right at the municipal lot at the Cortland Fire Station to the Cortland Repertory   Theatre.

DIVISIONS:

Infant – Grade 2

Grade 3 – 6

Grade 7 – 12

Group (2 or more individuals in a theme costume)

Family (2 or more family members in a theme costume)

AWARDS and JUDGING CATEGORIES FOR EACH DIVISION:

Best Monster, Most Original, Cutest, Scariest. Best Group, & Best Family awards given.

Top 5 awarded in Infant – Grade 2 & Grade 3-6. Best awarded in each category for grade 7-12

PARENTS/GUARDIANS:

Children under 9 require adult supervision in the parade. If you have children in different age groups and feel you need to keep them together for the parade, please walk with the the youngest child. There will be parade monitors assigned to each division.

WEATHER POLICY:

Parade will commence as planned with no rain date unless there are extreme, hazardous weather conditions, in which case notification of cancellation will be made by 2:00pm October 29 on 101.5 WXHC and Cortland Downtown Partnership’s Facebook page.

FLOATS:

Human-powered wagons, bicycles, carts allowed (no motorized vehicles); no animals.