Spotlight: The Parent Place 8th Annual Halloween Parade

Head to downtown Springfield on Saturday, October 25th at 6:30 pm to enjoy the sights and sounds of The Parent Place 8th Annual Halloween Parade, presented by HSHS St. John's Children's Hospital. The evening parade caps off a day of fun Halloween activities downtown. Parent Place Executive Director Bridgett Hammen explains, “We are excited to once again partner with the Dana Thomas House, Governor's Mansion, and Old State Capitol for a full day of safe, fun, spooktacular Halloween events for families in our community! We could not do this without the support of our presenting partner HSHS St. John's Children's Hospital and the many other sponsors who help make this happen.”

From 10:00 am until noon, children 12 years and under can complete Halloween crafts and activities in the courtyard of the Dana Thomas House, 301 East Lawrence. Children from pre-K through 5^th grade are invited to trick or treat at the Governor’s Mansion, 410 East Jackson, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm with crafts and treats provided by the Illinois State Museum and Central Baptist Church, and then from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Old State Capitol. The Halloween parade steps off at 6:30 pm and will travel down Jefferson, to Fifth, turning east on Monroe before heading north on Sixth Street. While it is still a fairly new parade, participants and spectators love its festive feel, and the event grows larger every year. This year there are 60 entries - lighted floats, dance groups, marching bands, costumes, candy, and more surprises than ever. Blake Stadel from 101.9 The Wolf is back again to emcee the event.

This year’s Grand Marshal is Sister Marilyn Jean Runkel. Sr. Marilyn Jean recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Parent Place at their annual Champions for Children event in June for her 65 years of service and commitment to children and families in our community.  She currently serves on the boards for St. Patrick School, Mercy Communities, and the United Way. She is also a member of the Springfield Dominican Antiracism Team. The Grand Marshal is sponsored by Landmark Ford.

Proceeds from the parade support the important work of The Parent Place, a local child abuse prevention organization founded in 1974, which currently serves over 5,000 clients each year. The Parent Place seeks to foster positive family environments across Springfield so that our next generation can grow and thrive. The mission of The Parent Place is to prevent child abuse and neglect by teaching positive parenting. At the core of its mission are classes to develop and enhance parenting skills for moms and dads. However, the scope of services has expanded over the years. For example, in situations where child custody between parents is at issue, the agency facilitates child-focused mediation and teaches positive co-parenting techniques. It also provides guardianship guidance and support for grandparents raising grandchildren.

Since 2006, The Parent Place has become well-known for its diaper pantry, which provides a monthly pack of diapers as well as education on issues such as nutrition, literacy, car seat safety, and healthy parent/child relationships to qualifying families with children aged two years or younger. The diaper pantry, which is based 100% on community donations, serves approximately 200 babies every month, babies who otherwise may have gone without a clean diaper. This past year The Parent Place expanded its outreach by establishing a partnership with the Sangamon County Department of Public Health. Twice a month, representatives from The Parent Place set up in the lobby of the Sangamon County Public Health Department to provide diapers to those in need. The schedule can be found on The Parent Place Facebook page.

For more information about The Parent Place and the Halloween parade, please visit https://www.facebook.com/springfieldtpp