Spectators at this year's Edwardsville Halloween Parade will see witches, ghosts, princesses and superheroes -- but no politicians.

The board has decided to ban campaigning, despite the general election the following week.

"We really just wanted to make sure the parade remained friendly and focused on children," said Desiree Bennyhoff, interim director of the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce.

To fill the void, the chamber sponsored a Meet the Candidates and Elected Officials event in September.

The Alton Halloween Parade won't include any politicians, either.

"We never have," said committee member Stacy Ebrey. "(The parade) is for kids, and they don't care about the election."

Both parades will take place on Oct. 31. Hundreds of people will march in costume and thousands will line streets starting at 6:30 p.m. in Edwardsville and 7:30 p.m. in Alton. Some floats will throw candy to children.

About 100 units are expected in the Edwardsville parade, including seven marching bands. The theme is "Dr. Seuss's 'Oh, the Places You'll Go!'"

"We thought that would be a wonderful way to get children involved," Bennyhoff said. "But everyone knows Dr. Seuss."

The parade will begin at Lincoln Middle School, go north on West Street, east on St. Louis (which runs into Vandalia) and north on Main, ending at High.

This year for the first time, float judging will take place during the parade instead of beforehand in the Lincoln parking lot.

"It will allow the judges to see the floats as they are moving in the parade," Bennyhoff said. "Some of the floats have beautiful lighting and special effects, and you can't see those in the daylight before the parade."

Judges will be stationed on a flat-bed trailer on Main Street with parade announcer S.J. Morrison, across the street from Madison County Courthouse.

The Alton parade will begin at Washington and Broadway and go east on Broadway and south on Piasa, ending at Ninth Street. About 80 units will include nine bands of all types.

This year's parade marshal is Larry Roberts, 72, of Godfrey, president of Lewis and Clark Radio Club.

"He was chosen because he has run radios for the parade for 50 years," Ebrey said. "We have radio cars that are spread throughout the parade route that radio back and forth to keep the parade on track."

At a glance

Edwardsville Halloween Parade -- 6:30 p.m. beginning at Lincoln Middle School and going north on West Street, east on St. Louis (which runs into Vandalia) and north on Main, ending at High.

Alton Halloween Parade -- 7:30 p.m. beginning at Washington and Broadway and going east on Broadway and south on Piasa, ending at Ninth Street.

Information: Call the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce at 618-656-7600 for Edwardsville or Stacy Ebrey at 462-7527 for Alton.