The King Frost Parade is hosted by the Hamburg Jaycees. The parade co-chairs describe the annual Hamburg tradition as a homecoming for the community.
The Hamburg Jaycees also host an annual Easter Egg Hunt for Easter and the Family Festival over Memorial Day Weekend.
“Just try to do things for the community and give people things to do and make it a nice place to live,” said 2017 parade co-chair Colleen Witman. “It’s a young person’s organization. It’s 18 to 40. Teach you leadership skills, being an active citizen, active in your community. The Jaycees, we don’t do a lot of projects but we try to do things for the community.”
Usually one person chairs the parade for a couple of years and a co-chair assists.
“We are a pretty small group so it would be hard to alternate every year,” said Witman.
Derek Leibensperger chaired the 49th through 53rd parade. Witman started helping two years ago.
“Start to train, learn how to do it because it’s never good when only one person knows how to do an event. Each year we are getting more people that know the ins and outs of the parade,” said Witman. “It gives you that chance to learn how to organize and take some more leadership roles.”
This year Erica Keller will be co-chairing with Witman for the 54th annual King Frost Parade which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m.
“It’s a lot of work but both of my parents were past chairmans of the parade so I’m really excited to kind of be following in my parents’ footsteps and (have) a more active role,” said Keller.
In past years, Keller helped with parade registration in the trailer.
“Learning everything that goes behind the parade, it’s a lot of work, but it’s fun,” said Keller. “It’s definitely a tradition of Hamburg. Everybody looks forward to it every year and I feel like it’s something that brings people back to their home town. It makes them remember where they came from.”
Witman grew up in Berks County and remembers coming to Hamburg for the King Frost Parade during her youth.
“I didn’t get the full feel of what King Frost was until I actually moved to Hamburg and hearing the local people talk about the parade, like the party planning and everything so it really is just a homecoming for people.”
When asked what they hope this year’s parade brings to Hamburg, Witman said, “We’re always hoping for the parade to grow. We’re always trying to encourage local organizations and local businesses to get involved in the parade. Everybody wants to see the parade grow which means you have to put a little work in to enjoy the parade. We’re always excited to get new entries.”
This year, the Phillie Phanatic will be returning, as well as the Nittany Lion.
Many of the area bands signed up early, as well as the groups that return year after year, such as The Shriners.
The Jaycees are also updating the King Frost float, adjusting colors and rearranging items on the float.
“King Frost is a welcoming of winter so you’ll see more of a transition of fall into winter on the King Frost float,” said Keller.
The King Frost Parade also has a Facebook page. For more information, follow at King Frost Parade on Facebook.
