Alton Prepares for 109th Halloween Parade

Alton Halloween Parade: Organizers Discuss Floats, Route and Safety

ALTON - The East End Improvement Association is preparing for the 109th Alton Halloween Parade.

The parade kicks off at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. The floats will travel from the intersection of Broadway and Washington along Piasa and end at Fifth Street in downtown Alton. East End Improvement Association members Steve Schwartz and Greg Erler have helped organize the parade for decades, and they are proud to carry on this tradition.

“It’s a parade for everyone,” Schwartz said. “The crowds are great and it’s a fun, fun night.”

This year’s parade marshal is Sam Stemm, a community leader in Alton. He will lead the parade.

With over 90 entries and roughly 120 vehicles expected to participate, this year's parade is expected to be one of the bigger Alton Halloween parades in recent history. The floats are separated into five categories — junior youth, senior youth, family, organizations and commercial — and first, second and third place awards are granted to winners in each section.

It’s an exciting night for kids and families along the parade route, but Erler and Schwartz ask the spectators to keep an eye on kids and stay out of the road. They noted that each float has a “wheel walker” who will walk alongside the trailers and trucks, and parade participants have been trained to throw candy at the crowd’s feet.

“Safety is of utmost importance at the parade,” Erler said. “To the crowd, please stay back. The candy will be thrown to you.”

The duo also thanked the City of Alton and the Alton Police Department for their work to clean up after the parade and keep everyone safe during the experience. They noted that a successful parade would not be possible without these collaborations.

“The City of Alton with the police who are going to be helping us out, keeping the community safe at the parade…They always do a standout job,” Erler said. “The City of Alton does a great job of cleaning up after the parade as well.”

The East End Improvement Association begins preparing for the parade in August every year. This organization has sponsored the parade since its beginning in 1916; the parade was interrupted for a few years because of World War II, but it’s known as one of the longest-running Halloween parades in the country.

East End Improvement Association members come together to ensure the parade runs smoothly. They are always seeking new members. You can reach out to them at eastendimprovement@gmail.com for more information.

Ultimately, Schwartz, Erler and their team hope that everyone in the Riverbend region comes out and has a fun night on Halloween. They believe the 109th Alton Halloween Parade has the chance to be one of the best yet.

RiverBender.com will livestream the parade. Click here for more information.

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