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Coastal Point • File Photo: This happy little bumble bee enjoyed the annual Selbyville Halloween parade back in 2011. This year’s parade is set for Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m.Continuing a more than 60-year tradition in Selbyville, the annual Lions Club Halloween parade will be held Wednesday evening, Oct. 28, beginning at 7 p.m. The event is jointly sponsored by the Fenwick Island Lions Club and the Town of Selbyville.
Once again the parade will extend the full length of Church Street — from Town Hall to the viewing stand in front of the PNC Bank. However, the costumed children will continue to meet in the Salem Methodist Church parking lot and will only march from there to the PNC Bank. All participants in the parade, with the exception of the children, are being asked to register and receive parade placement assignments at the registration desk at the corner of Dukes and Main Street, behind the PNC Bank, by 6 p.m.
While the primary thrust of this year’s parade is — as it has been in the past — children, costumes, bands and fun, the Lions Club has again chosen the theme of “Sight Night” for the annual event. Lions Clubs worldwide are known for their sight and vision work — whether it be providing glasses for those in need, administering a vision screening test for children to detect childhood vision disorders or raising funds to support vision research. Lions also address other sight issues — including cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, corneal transplants, river blindness and trachoma.
At this year’s parade, members of the Indian River High School Leo Club — a Lions Club-sponsored service organization that also emphasizes community service — will be collecting used eyeglasses. The eyeglasses are ultimately distributed to those in need in developing countries.
When considering costumes for this year, parade-goers are being encouraged to consider the “Sight Night” theme and to bring old eyeglasses for recycling.
As in the past, there will be a children’s costume contest. All children are to meet in the parking lot of the Salem Methodist Church by 6 p.m. Children will be divided into fie age groups (Age 1-4, Grades K & 1, Grades 2 & 3, Grades 4-6, Grades 7 & up, and family groups.) First-, second- and third-place ribbons will be awarded for the best, most original costumes in each group.
A number of high school bands have been invited to participate. This year, the school bands will assemble at the Southern Delaware School of the Arts parking lot on Hosier Street, be assigned a marching position and will line up on Dukes Street.
The parade will also include baton-twirlers, political candidates, neighboring fire companies, scout troops, Miss Delaware Junior Teen, farm equipment and more. Upon arrival, those groups will also register at the registration desk at the corner of Dukes and Main Street, behind the PNC Bank, by 6 p.m., then proceed to their assigned position on Dukes Street. The Selbyville Police Department has banned all motorized four-wheelers and ATVs for safety reasons. Almost anything else is permitted, unless it is judged to be unsafe.
The Lions Club will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs and both hot and cold drinks near the viewing stand in the parking lot of the PNC Bank. There may be other groups selling food items. However, due to new laws governing public events, all vendors (no exceptions) are required to complete a vendor registration form that will be sent to DEMA before the start of the event. Vendor application forms can be obtained only by contacting Fran Pretty at (302) 436-1773.
The Lions Club will also be offering a 50/50 raffle, with the winner getting 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale of tickets. Tickets will be offered by Lions Club members prior to the parade date and also at the parade. The raffle winner will be drawn at the end of the parade. The winner need not be present.
Handicapped parking will be available in the town parking lot behind the Georgia House restaurant on Main Street.
For more information, visit the website for the Town of Selbyville at www.townofselbyville.com or contact Lion Fran Pretty at (302) 436-1773 or Debbie McCabe at Selbyville Town Hall at (302) 436-8314.