Festival At Bel Air Hosting 30th Annual Halloween Costume Parade

BEL AIR, MD — This year's Halloween costume parade at the Festival at Bel Air is a big one. It's the 30th annual Bel Air Halloween Costume Contest & Trick or Treat, according to organizers.

Regardless of the forecast, the parade and trick-or-treating will go on — it's a rain-or-shine event.

The festivities will take place on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the shopping center off Bel Air South Parkway.

Billed as the largest in the county and possibly the state, the parade is held in the parking lot between Rite Aid and Uptown Cheapskate.

"If it's wet, we will shelter under the overhang that starts at Rite Aid and extends all the way up past Five Below," organizers said. The 11 a.m. costume contest and trick-or-treating will take place "no matter what."

Lineup begins at 10:30 a.m., and the parade takes off at 11 a.m.

There will be 30 semifinalist prizes for best costume, 10 finalists and three grand-prize winners who will receive cash awards. Last year, the Claw Machine from Abingdon won the grand prize, a haunted jewelry box put together by two girls from Bel Air won 2nd place and a Joppatowne contestant won 3rd place for her cotton candy costume.

Those in costume will receive trick-or-treat bags and are welcome to say and trick-or-treat at the shops after the parade in the shopping center.

Festival merchants will be passing out candy and treats from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Adults can receive a special free gift (spoiler alert: it's a reusable tote bag!), and there will be face painting, music and costumed characters.

The 30th annual Halloween Costume Parade & Trick or Treat at The Festival at Bel Air will start at 11 a.m. and end by 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27. It is completely free and will be held rain or shine.

SEE ALSO: More Than 3,000 Attend Festival at Bel Air Halloween Parade

Main photo is from Elizabeth Janney.