Downtown Bristol to Host a Full Day of Halloween Festivities,
Including the Inaugural Halloween Parade
September 19, 2023 (Bristol, TN/VA) – Bristol continues its tradition of Halloween festivities this year on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Kicking off with Pumpkin Palooza at Downtown Center, children will be able to select and decorate free pumpkins beginning at 9am. From 10am-12pm, the sidewalks will be filled with costumed kids and families for Trick-or-Treating with Downtown Bristol businesses. In addition to our ongoing annual traditions, we are pleased to announce the Inaugural Downtown Bristol Halloween Parade! The parade will begin at 6:30pm. The parade route will begin at the municipal lot in front of Bristol TN City Hall (801 Anderson Street) and conclude at the intersection of State Street and Lee Street/5th Street. The route spans approximately 0.5 miles. Parade registration is now open to businesses, nonprofits, groups, families, marching bands, and more.
The Bristol TN/VA Inaugural Halloween Parade will feature two distinct categories of participants, allowing for diverse and enjoyable experiences for all attendees. Parade entrants will self-categorize their entries as either “Fun & Festive” or “Scary & Macabre” to indicate the nature of their costumes and performances. Costumes falling under the “Fun & Festive” category are designed to be suitable for all ages, emphasizing creativity, humor, and the spirit of Halloween without overly scary or frightening elements. The “Scary & Macabre” category delves into the darker and more sinister side of Halloween, featuring haunting costumes inspired by horror, the supernatural, and the macabre.
“We feel that the parade will be another marquee event for downtown Bristol that will draw participants, spectators, and excitement from throughout the region,” said Wyatt Lilly, downtown business owner. “People love Halloween and look for more to do than just trick or treating with children. Over recent years, Halloween has transitioned from a children’s holiday to one that more and more adults participate in.”
A number of Downtown Bristol businesses will also be hosting festive events, such as storytime, costume parties, trunk-or-treat, and live music. For more information on the full schedule of events for the weekend, visit
believeinbristol.org. To register for the parade or find out more, visit
believeinbristol.org/halloween.
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About Believe In Bristol
Believe in Bristol’s mission is to unify and strengthen Downtown Bristol by promoting its history, facilitating future growth, and building a vibrant community of arts and culture, heritage, music, and economic strength. Believe in Bristol strives to strengthen our Historic Downtown by implementing the Main Street Four Point Approach focusing on Organization, Design, Promotion, and Economic Vitality. For more information about Believe in Bristol and to browse other Downtown Bristol events, visit
www.BelieveInBristol.org.
