WOODBURY — One of Gloucester County’s longest-running parades is scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 4, in Woodbury. 

The 65th Annual Greater Woodbury Fall Festival Parade will kick off at 6:30 p.m.

The parade is only part of the party in Woodbury Saturday.

There will be a Duck Race starting at Rotary Park at 11:30 a.m., hosted by the Breakfast Rotary Club of Woodbury. There’s a $5 ticket price, proceeds benefitting the Rotary and the YMCA of Gloucester County. You can get more information by calling 856-853-7771.

Later Saturday, Inspira Medical Center of Woodbury and the Road Runners Club of Woodbury will hold the 7th Annual 5K Race Down Broad Street and Kids Fun Run. The kids’ event starts at 5:15 p.m.; the 5K run or walk steps off at 5:45 p.m. Both start and end at Inspira, 509 N. Broad St. Registration begins at 4 p.m. in Inspira’s Red Bank Avenue parking lot. Entry fee for kids, $10; for the 5K, $25, which will include a T-shirt, snack and cash prizes and awards for the top three male and female finishers in age groups.

The parade, with more than 70 entries, starts at 6:30 p.m. This year’s parade theme is “Celebrating Our History,” and entries may depict Woodbury history, American history, the history of the entry organization or some specific historical event.

The parade will start at  Colonial Avenue and proceed south on Broad Street to Salem Avenue.

Awards will be given out for the following categories: Parade Float, Marching Band, Fire/Rescue Apparatus, Antique Vehicle, Performing Group and Community Organization. The parade awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. in Woodbury City Council Chambers, directly before the 7:30 p.m. City Council meeting.

Several high school bands plan to participate in the parade, including Woodbury, Paulsboro, Spotswood Pep Band and the Woodstown High School Band. Returning performers include the legendary Bonsal Blues Band, Ed Coles & the Entertainers, and Stilt Walker, Pat Ahearn.   

New to the parade this year are the Camden County Emerald Society Pipes & Drums and the David Cedeno Salsa Marching Band.

The city’s horse-drawn 1912 Steamer Fire Engine will be a feature of this year’s parade.

Once again, Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT) and the Woodbury Child Development Center will be taping the parade. Comcast and Verizon will show a taped replay on local TV stations in the weeks following the actual parade.

The rain date for the parade is Saturday, October 11.  In the event of inclement weather, call (856) 845-1300 after 3:00 p.m. on the day of the parade to hear a recording verifying cancellation or postponement. This is the time frame set by the City of Woodbury for cancellation/postponement.