Behind the Badge
For nearly 100 years, the Anaheim Halloween Parade has been delighting the residents of Anaheim and beyond with a festive display of floats and wide ranging presence of community groups of all ages.
The tradition continued on Oct. 26, with the Anaheim Police Department and Anaheim Fire & Rescue playing a major role.
The parade featured vintage and modern fire engines, police officers on horseback, Anaheim Police Explorers, SWAT vehicles, youth sports teams, dance teams, Boy Scout troupes, church groups, and others who marched and rolled along Broadway.
Even Anaheim Police K9 Ivan participated.
So did Anaheim City Council members, led by Mayor Harry Sidhu.
The procession made its way to the Center Street Promenade, where the festivities continued with the Anaheim Fall Festival, an interactive extravaganza featuring a Kiddie Costume Contest, Pooch Pawrade, and Pumpkin Art Contest.
The first Halloween Pageant took place in 1923 with a mile-and-a-half line of kids in costumes winding through downtown streets.
The first actual Halloween Parade was held on Oct. 30, 1924, when crowds lined both sides of Center Street to view a 45-minute procession, led by baseball legends Babe Ruth and Walter Johnson.
In the 1950s, the parade and festival were drawing 150,000 spectators annually, and local newspaper called the event “the biggest Halloween Party in the Nation.”
KTLA began televising the parade in the late 1960s.
The parade almost died out during the 1980s before a new generation of community members joined with schools, businesses and nonprofit organizations to build the festival back up.
The following are photos from the Oct. 26 event. – Lou Ponsi
Kids wave at Anaheim PD Mounted Officer Eric Anderson and his horse, Cash, as they participate in the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Anaheim PD Sgt. Bob Conklin talks to APD Explorers before the start of the Anaheim Halloween Parade. Explorers from left are Lt. Raymond Magana, Sgt. Gecsemani Giron, Brian O’Donnell and Sgt. Stephanie Salas.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The Anaheim PD Explorer Honor Guard start the Anaheim Halloween Parade down Broadway. Explorers from left are Sgt. Gecsemani Giron, Brian O’Donnell, Lt. Raymond Magana and Sgt. Stephanie Salas.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Anaheim PD Mounted Officer Lorenzo Uribe walks down Broadway as they participate in the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Volunteer Keith Olesen follows the Anaheim PD horses down Broadway during the Anaheim Halloween Parade ready to clean up after them. “It’s the best job in the world.” says Olesen, “I get standing ovations!”
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
One of the more recognizable floats for the Anaheim Halloween Parade is the Rocket Witch ’51.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Members of the St. Catherine’s Academy in Anaheim march down Broadway in Star Wars masks during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
A giant spider, sponsored by Goodwill of Orange County, towers above as the sun sets behind him during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Anaheim PD SWAT Officer Brett Heitmann waves to the kids as he rides down Broadway in an APD SWAT vehicle during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
A “Flying Sasser” gets pulled down Broadway during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
A vintage fire engine from Anaheim Fire & Rescue drives down Broadway with red lights flashing during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
An Anaheim firefighter waves at crowds as he drives the back of AF&R Truck 1 down Broadway during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Anaheim Fire & Rescue Truck 1 drives past parade watchers during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
A float from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Anaheim glides down Broadway.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Anaheim PD Officer Brian Bonczkiewicz drives his K-9 patrol car as he participates in the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Ten-year-old Cole Bonczkiewicz, son of Anaheim PD Officer Brian Bonczkiewicz, helps his father by throwing candy to kids along the Anaheim Halloween Parade root from his dad’s patrol car.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
An Anaheim SWAT vehicle makes its way down Broadway as kids get a close look during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The Anaheim Elementary School District Showcase Band performs as they march down Broadway during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The Anaheim High School NJROTC proudly march down Broadway during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
A little girl smiles as one of the many marching bands play their music.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu waves as his vintage car he is ridding in makes its way down Broadway during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Anaheim Mayor Pro Tem Lucille Kring rides down Broadway with her husband Ron Kring during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Oxford Preparatory Academy Marching Champions perform during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Girls from the California Youth Spirit Corps cheer for the crowd during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Band members from the Ball & Brookhurst Junior High School’s Musical All-Stars perform while sitting on stacks of hay during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Members of the Star Trek Artesia fan club walk down Broadway with a replica of a Galaxy-class starship during the Anaheim Halloween Parade.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
