Oldest Halloween Parade in the U.S. | Hiawatha, Kansas
There’s something magical about Halloween in Hiawatha, Kansas: a town where pumpkins cover porches, costumes take over the sidewalks, and the candy flows for two whole nights. For me, growing up here meant that Halloween wasn’t just a holiday… it was my birthday party, my neighborhood adventure, and the start of a fall tradition that has lasted over a century. From spooky decorations to the nation’s oldest continuous Halloween parade, Hiawatha turns the entire town into a celebration you don’t want to miss.
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Celebrating My Halloween-Birthday in Hiawatha, Kansas
I’ve always loved Halloween, probably because the holiday and my birthday are practically inseparable. Growing up in the small northeastern Kansas town of Hiawatha meant that every year around my birthday, the town would transform into a spectacular celebration of fall, costumes, candy and community.
In Hiawatha we didn’t get just one trick-or-treat night. We got two. That meant more roaming the block in costume, more candy in our bags, and yes, more birthday party fun. My twin sister and I would pick one of the nights to host our birthday gathering. Friends dressed up. We paraded through the neighborhood. Back home we dumped our candy together, plopped on a scary movie (but usually Hocus Pocus), and let the night roll into laughter and costume shenanigans.
When we got into high school, the excitement didn’t fade; it just changed form. The annual “Freakers Ball” school dance became our Halloween-birthday moment. No longer chasing candy, but still dressing up, still dancing, still celebrating. I’ll never forget our senior year: the two of us turning 18, costumed up, and the whole school breaking into “Happy Birthday” for us during the dance. The energy was amazing, the memory one I’ll always treasure.
The highlight: Two parades on Halloween day
And then there’s the crown jewel of Hiawatha’s Halloween magic: the Halloween Frolic. Since 1914, this small town has held the oldest continuous Halloween parade in the nation. Afternoon brings the Kiddie Parade, where kids, creative floats, decorated bikes and wagons and whole families celebrating together. Evening brings the Grand Parade with costume-floats, marching bands, street performers, and even the crowning of a Halloween Queen (open to seniors from the high school and nearby towns). The winner earns a scholarship and rides in the parade in their own car.
Background on the Halloween Frolic
Hiawatha actually holds the title for having the oldest continuous Halloween parade in the nation! The tradition started back in 1914, thanks to a local woman named Elizabeth Krebs, who’s often called the “Mother of the Halloween Frolic.” At the time, mischievous Halloween pranks were causing all sorts of trouble around town with smashed pumpkins, broken fences, and torn-up gardens. Tired of the chaos, Mrs. Krebs decided to channel that youthful energy into something positive. She organized a community costume party and a small parade with homemade floats, music, and prizes. Her idea worked . The vandalism stopped, and the celebration grew every year until it became a full-blown town tradition. Over a century later, Hiawatha still proudly carries on her legacy every October 31.
Beyond the parades: more fall & Halloween fun
Beyond just parades, Hiawatha’s Halloween celebration spills into the whole town. Downtown businesses compete to decorate their windows; neighborhoods host decorated-house contests; pumpkins are carved, costumes are planned, and the town steps into full autumn mode. The afternoon parade begins at 3 p.m. for family friendly fun, then the Grand Parade at 7 p.m. with the spookier theme.
Over the years Hiawatha’s celebrations have grown with the addition of:
Window-decorating contests for downtown businesses (think spooky, seasonal themes)
House-decorating contests gearing up for trick-or-treating
Pumpkin‐decorating contests
Costumes contests at various levels
What this all meant for me is that my birthday never felt like ‘just another day’. It felt like our day wrapped up in town-wide excitement, costumed fun, shared energy, and memories with my sister and friends. I think what makes Hiawatha’s celebration so special is that it’s inclusive and multi-generational, from the youngest kids in the afternoon parade to high school seniors crowned for the evening show. So whether I was collecting candy at nine or dancing at eighteen, the spirit was the same.
If you ever find yourself in northeastern Kansas around late October, I’d highly recommend stopping by for the Halloween Frolic in Hiawatha. It’s more than a parade. It’s a community turning fall, kids, costumes and birthday dreams into one big party. For me, it’s the place where Halloween and my birthday became inseparable.
Ciao for now!
Sources & Further Reading
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