NORWICH – Ghouls and goblins will again haunt the streets of downtown Norwich this weekend as dozens of floats and costumed marchers join the annual Halloween parade.

The Norwich Family YMCA Halloween parade will step off at 2 p.m. Saturday. The time has been changed to take place later in the afternoon than in previous years in hopes of increasing attendance to the Pumpkin Festival’s evening events.

“Before there was a Pumpkin Festival, we had the parade. But since the festival began, more and more we are integrating the events together, which is good for both. The more successful the community’s events, the better for the community,” said parade organizer and Senior YMCA Program Director Tom Revoir.

The Norwich Halloween Parade has been a city tradition for more than 50 years and has been coordinated by the YMCA for the past 20. Organizers said they have over 20 floats registered for this year’s parade.

The parade takes place at the heart of Pumpkin Festival and participation is free. “Every year we look to draw more people to the parade and to Pumpkin Festival itself,” said YMCA parade organizer Julie Wallen.

The parade marchers will start from Beebe Avenue and step off from alternating streets up to Front Street, making their way up Broad Street through the center of town. They’ll finish in the parking lot behind Howard Johnson’s Hotel.