Hub City hosts Halloween parade

The Avenues of Hattiesburg presented an inaugural Halloween parade on Tuesday night, drawing in hundreds from all over the Pine Belt area.

Members of local businesses such as T-Bone’s Records and Cafe and The Thirsty Hippo participated riding in floats and throwing candy by the handfuls to onlookers. The parade traveled east down Hardy Street, starting at Parkway Heights United Methodist Church and ending at the Hattiesburg Zoo.  

The Avenues named Rex Thompson of WDAM and Ember Ahua as Grand Reaper and Pumpkin Queen in a statement last week.

“We are excited about the addition of Rex and Ember to Hattiesburg’s first Halloween Parade,” said Brandon Thaxton, Avenues Alliance president. “Both represent the fun personality of our city and this event.”

Cheerleaders, dance teams, the Hattiesburg High marching band and even the Hattiesburg Police Department dazzled Hardy Street with funky costumes and candy.

Floats complete with colorful lights and smiling faces of Hattiesburg groups like Brownstone’s Restaurant and Comics & Stuff participated in the parade.

Cub Scout Troupe 1323 stood on the side of Hardy Street by the Hattiesburg Zoo as they patiently waited in their Superhero and cartoon character costumes for Halloween decorated floats to whiz by.

The inaugural Halloween parade showcased the local breast cancer awareness group and the Pine Belt Pacers, however, everyday people were not the only participants in the parade.  Zombies and ghosts spooked onlookers with their eccentric outfits and intricately painted faces.

Junior broadcast journalism major Kristy Shelley emceed the parade, throwing in knock-knock jokes and entertaining comments throughout the night.

“There are way more people here than I initially expected,” Shelley said.

“I’m so excited to have the opportunity to do my part as a member of the Hattiesburg and Southern Miss community. Hopefully this parade will be one of many.”

Local dynamites Jason LeViere and Adam Myrick, co-owners of Click Boutique and Gallery and Twelve Oaks Accessory Garden, spent most of Tuesday night judging the floats and costumes. Best costume went to “Half Naked Guy” Mike Herrington.

Best floats: Third place was Nick’s Ice House, second place was the Hattiesburg High marching band and first place went to T-Bone’s Records and Café and The Thirsty Hippo.

A photo gallery of the parade can be found at www.rbportraiture.tumblr.com.