One of the best Halloween parades in the country?

According to USA Today, that's exactly what the Portsmouth Halloween Parade is.

Each year, Seacoast Halloween fanatics descend upon downtown Portsmouth for the parade, donning detailed costumes and a community spirit that few towns in the nation can match.

With tens of thousands attendees present, the organization of the parade is a massive undertaking. And for a grassroots organization, the beloved annual tradition requires extensive amounts of support from the city of Portsmouth. Plus ... a lot of cash, too.

On today's episode, host Troy Farkas welcomes two parade organizers, Jonathan Day and Amanda Giles, to discuss why this parade is one of the Seacoast's top annual attractions. Plus, they talk about the 30-year history of the parade, why they refuse to take corporate sponsorship, the choosing of the Grand Marshal, the creative year-long efforts that go into raising funds for this event, and so much more.

CHAPTERS:

• Seacoast Stories LIVE on 12/5 (00:00)
• The history of the parade (02:00)
• Forgoing corporate sponsorship (12:45)
• Why the parade is so beloved (16:00)
• The small (but mighty) team behind the parade (30:44)
• BTS planning of the event (36:00)
• Plans for the 30th parade (50:52)
• How do you want to be remembered? (53:53)

EVENTS:

• ⁠Seacoast Stories Dinner Club⁠ is headed to Hampton, N.H., on Wednesday, November 12. Meet your new best friends by ⁠taking this personality quiz⁠ and securing your spot today.
• Seacoast Stories LIVE! On Friday, December 5, the Seacoast's biggest podcast takes the 3S Artspace stage for an evening of community, connection, and conversation. Secure your tickets here.

SPONSORS:

• LADIES! To learn more about what's going on with your hormones, you can get a FREE lab consultation with Dr. Whitney Elsesser by visiting the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Holistic & Hormonal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ web site when you write "HORMONES" on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the contact page.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• To get started on a path toward better financial investment, email our friend David Higgins ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠david.higgins@wellsfargoadvisors.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! He's a Portsmouth legend, and you won't regret it.

Investment and insurance products are Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency, Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate, Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested.

• Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Clearing Services (WFCS), LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. WFCS uses the trade name Wells Fargo Advisors. 1 North Jefferson, St. Louis, MO 63103.

*This episode contains references to sexual harassment. Listener discretion is advised.*

They told her no one would buy turmeric lattes. That she was crazy for leaving a $350,000 salary behind.

That she needed to have sex with her boss for any shot at career advancement.

Jennifer Wilder has heard it all. It's never stopped her before, and now, at 48 years old, nothing can.

Wilder (formerly known as Jennifer Desrosiers) is the "boss babe" owner of Seacoast favorites LANEY & LU and Ginger Fox Bakery. Before opening LANEY & LU in Exeter, N.H., 10 years ago, Jen lived a completely different life, having spent 20 years working in manufacturing, engineering, and plastics.

And now, in Part One of a two-part conversation, the Seacoast's top adventuress is ready to tell all.

From the West End of Portsmouth, Jennifer and host Troy Farkas discuss Jen's childhood, her "brutal" experiences with sexual harassment in her past career, and the health issues that led her to completely change course.

Plus, what she learned about herself during yoga teacher training, the vision that led her to create LANEY & LU, why the brand took off more than she ever imagined it would, growing her restaurant empire, becoming a role model for female entrepreneurs, and much, much more.

CHAPTERS:

• Jen Wilder's upbringing (00:00)
• The good, bad, and ugly from corporate life (11:34)
• The chain of events that led Jen to throw away her past life (20:00)
• How Jen became a leading voice in the female entrepreneur scene (32:38)
• Opening LANEY & LU in 2015 (42:52)
• The expansion of Jen's brand & restaurant empire (55:00)

If you're a business owner in need of some 1:1 coaching, you can work with Jen by inquiring here.

SPONSORS:

• ⁠⁠⁠Jennifer Bakos Photography⁠⁠⁠: Small biz owners can get 10% off your first photography session by DM'ing Jenn ⁠⁠⁠@jennbakosphoto ⁠⁠⁠on Instagram! Just tell her you're a fan of the podcast 😊
• LADIES! To learn more about what's going on with your hormones, you can get a FREE lab consultation with Dr. Whitney Elsesser by visiting the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Holistic & Hormonal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ web site when you write "HORMONES" on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the contact page.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

While overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at Cliff House, host Troy Farkas sits down with Cliff House General Manager Nancy White.

In this bonus episode (recorded in August), the two discuss Cliff House’s storied history, the natural beauty surrounding the resort, how a rough economy impacted attendance at Cliff House this summer, the many dining options offered, and the luxurious services offered at one of Maine’s most iconic landmarks.

To learn more about Cliff House's offerings and to book the stay of your dreams, just visit CliffHouseMaine.com, or follow them on Instagram @cliffhousemaine.

For more stories about the amazing people and places of the Seacoast, you can subscribe to the "Seacoast Stories" podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on our YouTube channel.

UPCOMING "SEACOAST STORIES" EVENTS:

• Seacoast Stories Dinner Club is in Exeter, N.H., on Wednesday, 10/15. Meet your new best friends by ⁠⁠⁠signing up here.⁠⁠