A frightfully good time: Thousands parade through Longmont for revived Halloween parade
Oct. 31—It took Laura Lawrence only about 10 minutes to staple together a deck of cards and fashion them into a collar fit for a queen — the Queen of Hearts, that is. With a gold crown and flouncy red skirt, Lawrence's costume was completed by a bloodied card sticking from her right eyebrow.
"I always try to have a cool costume and do something different with a card in my head," Lawrence said. "My nieces are here somewhere; their costumes look like they're holding their heads, which is perfect with mine."
Lawrence, of Firestone, was one of thousands who went downtown Saturday to show off their costumes and march in the 42nd annual Longmont Halloween Parade. Last year's event was canceled due to the coronavirus, and many parade-goers were glad to see it brought back to life by Longmont Recreation Services.
Costumed characters were joined in the march by dozens of high school bands, playing renditions of "I Want Candy," "Paint It, Black" and "Thriller." Spectators lined up along Coffman Street, Third Avenue, Main Street and Longs Peak Avenue to see the costumes and collect candy, tossed by those marching by. Local businesses also participated in Trick or Treat Street, giving children the chance to collect even more candy.
For more than 30 years, Lawrence has been coming out to the parade — first as a child and now as an adult who is passing the tradition down to her nieces and nephews.
"We love Halloween; we go all out whenever we can," Lawrence said.
Others were also passing down the tradition.
Sisters Jorie Rodriguez and Tambrie Valdez, of Longmont, were among the parade-goers. Rodriguez brought her 8-year-old son, Dominik Rodriguez, who dressed as Steve from Minecraft, and was hoping to find some Kit Kat bars.
The sisters have been coming to the parade since they were children.
"Our mom always made the best costumes," Valdez said, describing how one year her mom handmade a one-piece clown costume, complete with a rainbow wig.
Rodriguez added, "It's just kind of magical, you get to be something different and see something exciting."
The sisters said they looked forward to being out in the community, seeing the costumes and hearing the many marching bands play in the parade.
Waiting for the festivities to begin Saturday were Susie and Mike Woltman, of Longmont. The couple used to take their four kids to be part of the Halloween parade. Now that their children are grown, the couple still returns to take part in their 21-year tradition.
This year, Susie Woltman dressed as a witch and Mike Woltman as "a guy with a funky hairdo."
"I think it's great, just to hear the music — I like that," Susie Woltman said. "The music is really good, especially when they do 'I Want Candy.'"
"This is the best downtown parade I've ever seen," Mike Woltman added.
Dressed like the Wicked Witch of the West, Tia Frazier and her daughter, Ada Frazier, 7, who dressed as Dorothy, were eager to share the tradition with family. Frazier said her parents and brother moved to Longmont from Illinois two years ago. They joined the mother and daughter as the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and Tin Man.
"We go big for Halloween every year," Frazier said. "It's nice to see everyone out again. Longmont does great with its parades."
