Halloween parades and celebrations are common in Kansas, but the oldest Halloween Parade in the Nation has been held annually on or around October 31st since 1914, right here in Kansas, the city of Hiawatha has hosted Halloween for that long. It started 107 years ago, the kids dressed in costume and decorated their trikes and wagons, which were the first floats.
Today, it has expanded to include two big parades, many contests, trophies, cash prizes and a Halloween Queen Contest. The kiddie parade in the afternoon starts with hundreds of youngsters in costume. Prizes are awarded for best costumes, decorated bikes, trikes wagons, family floats, small motorized vehicles and horses.
The Grand Parade in the evening includes dignitaries such as the Governor of Kansas and other distinguished political leaders, high school bands, floats, horses, Shrine Units and the ever-present natives in costume, make the night parade something very special and the oldest in the Nation.
