SALEM - The yellow brick road will run right through Salem for a few hours Thursday night.
But the famous fictional roadway from "The Wizard of Oz" won't lead to the Emerald City. Instead, it will pave the way for the official start of the city's Halloween season.
The 12th annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade, expected to draw as many as 15,000 onlookers, will start from Shetland Park at 6:30 p.m. "The Wizard of Oz" inspired the theme of this year's parade. Mayor Kim Driscoll will be walking with the Lion, Scarecrow, Dorothy and the Tin Man.
They will have plenty of company along the parade route.
"We're going crazy this year," Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rinus Oosthoek said, describing the overflowing interest in the parade.
Seventy groups, including schools, businesses, civic organizations and city officials, have signed up to march. Last year, 49 groups took part.
Marching bands from Salem, Beverly, Swampscott and Saugus high schools will provide the musical accompaniment. Every city school will march. So will Salem's Little League Champions.
Miss East Coast will be there with Miss Commonwealth, Salem State senior Keriann Skerry. The Witches of Salem will be represented. The popular East Beverly All-Star Lawn Chair Drill Team will return to entertain. The Ghostbusters and their authentic car will also be back.
The parade will traverse a modified route. For the first time, floats and marchers will use Lafayette and Front streets.
A committee of organizers picked this year's theme last spring.
"'The Wizard of Oz' is a family-friendly version of what we're trying to present in Salem," Oosthoek said.
Representatives of The Salem Theatre Company will depict the story's main characters and help lead the procession.
"This is the first time STC has ever been so prominently displayed, which is very exciting," Artistic Director Catherine Bertrand said. "The goal is to make people know about Salem Theatre Company, and the entire town comes out for this parade."
Todd Bleckley, Bates Elementary School art teacher, has been prepping for his seventh parade. Bleckley coordinates production of Bates' elaborate floats.
This year's float, at least 9 feet high and propelled by a pickup truck, captures the moment from the movie when the protagonists encounter the Wizard. Smoke and flashing lights will enhance the scene.
"The kids just love it," Bates Principal Thomas LaValley said of preparing for and participating in the parade.
The Salem YMCA bucket brigade will be collecting donations to help defray the costs of the parade. The price is typically between $5,000 and $6,000, Oosthoek said.
Oosthoek said the weather report is favorable, with a temperature above 70 degrees predicted.
"Come and have fun. That's the idea," he said. "It's a family parade."
If you go
What: 12th annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade
Theme: "The Wizard of Oz"
When: Thursday, Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m.
Where: The parade leaves from Shetland Park on Congress Street turns left onto Derby Street, right onto Lafayette Street, left onto Front Street, right onto Washington Street, right onto the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and finishes at Salem Common.
