Sinister scoundrels will prowl the streets of Columbia on Thursday, Oct. 23, but don't worry. It's all in good fun.

"Villains Unleashed" is the theme of this year's Columbia Mardi Gras Halloween parade. The parade is sponsored by the Columbia Lions Club and Sunsnappers and will step off at 7 p.m. at the Columbia Borough Fire Department, 10th and Manor streets. It will follow a route from Manor Street to Fourth Street, Union Street, Second Street, Locust Street and Sixth Street, before ending on Cherry Street.

The parade will feature five divisions.

"We have over 85 different entries in the parade," said Joseph Chornock, co-chair of the parade. "We have the Columbia Borough Fire Department and all of the surrounding departments. We have church groups, the PostMortem Hearse Club and area tow companies. We have the Zembo Shriners mini cars."

High school and community bands will participate, along with local businesses and civic groups. The last unit in the parade is always a steam calliope.

The Mardi Gras Halloween Parade is a long-standing Columbia tradition.

"It is the 78th annual celebration, and the parade route is about 1 and a half miles long," Chornock shared. "We have food vendors along the route and especially along Locust Street."

Up to $1,500 in cash prizes will be awarded for the best floats, walking groups and individual participants.

Unlike some parades where judges review entries at one spot along the route, the Columbia parade ensures that all units receive equal attention.

"We have judges that roam the route to evaluate the participants in three categories," Chornock remarked.

Donations are accepted at the parade, with proceeds used toward the prizes awarded, he noted, adding, "The Lions Club gives away donations throughout the year, such as the four $4,000 donations that we presented to nonprofit organizations after this year's Lions Club Car Show."

Mable and John Hershey will serve as the parade's grand marshals. The couple will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on the day of the parade.

The Hersheys, of Marietta, have built their lives around faith, family and friendships, but one of their most impactful contributions has been the transformation of a struggling personal care home into Our Home of Hope. Today, it stands as a vibrant, faith-filled sanctuary for residents living with intellectual and mental health challenges. Through strong fundraising efforts, dedicated nonprofit leadership and countless "God moments," the Hersheys rallied the community to bring dignity, stability and joy back to those who now call the home their own. Located at 223-225 Cherry St., Columbia, the residence was previously known as Cherry Street Guest Home.

Chornock noted that the parade provides a community atmosphere and an opportunity to celebrate Halloween.

"The parade is at night, and its theme this year is 'Villains Unleashed,'" he said. "This alone should be enough to get people excited. We will have ghosts and goblins, the walking dead!"

For more information on the parade, visit https://columbialions.org/parade.