Pounding rain doesn’t faze Monster Marchers

Published 12:00 am Sunday, November 24, 2024

With an “atmospheric river” taking dead aim at Inner Southeast Portland on Saturday afternoon, October 27, it seemed questionable whether the beloved and long-established Hallowe’en tradition, the Moreland Monster March parade, would even take place.

The short answer: Yes it would! None of the costumed marchers who showed up had the slightest reluctance to go ahead and get soaked in the parade!

Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division officers dutifully blocked traffic as the 2024 Moreland Monster March stepped off on schedule from Llewellyn Elementary School on its trek (splash?) through the Westmoreland business district and back to the schoolgrounds.

From blocks away, the arriving parade was announced by music, vigorously played by the Sellwood Middle School Marching Band at the head of the procession, just behind Oaks Amusement Park’s mascot, Chipper the Squirrel.

The “long view” north on S.E. Milwaukie Avenue from Bybee Boulevard was a sea of umbrellas, under which the mostly soaked-to-the-skin marching revelers moseyed, while dripping kids collected handfuls of candy from generous business staffers along the way.

A PPB officer agreed with us that at least 1,200 folks had arrived in the downpour to participate in the annual celebration.

Afterwards, THE BEE caught up to this year’s event organizer for the Llewellyn Elementary School PTA, Melisa Pierson of the Westmoreland office of Windermere Real Estate. “As always, those with the Sellwood Community House and the Sellwood Moreland Business Alliance were very helpful; graphic artist Mel Latthitham with Sweet Bonny generously created the poster,” said Pierson. And THE BEE donated the color ad.

“As an additional attraction today we showed Randy Sean Schulman’s local movie, ‘The Masked Villain of Sellwood’, at the Moreland Theater, sponsored by Melisa Pierson Real Estate. And, the fifth grade parents at Llewellyn hosted a bake sale, to support their kids’ overnight trip,” She added.

“It was so great to see so many people come out and enjoy this fun family event despite the rain!” And if you would like to see it too, here is a brief and exclusive BEE VIDEO of this year’s Monster March! – https://youtu.be/sZcuPLz6550