Rutland, Vermont + Archies Comics

New Archie Comics Story Features Rutland’s Legendary Halloween Parade

Rutland City’s annual Halloween Parade has become the backdrop of a NEW Archie Comics story—Archie’s Friend Scarlet: Purrfect Parade

Featured in the Archie Comic Digest Halloween Special, the story centers on Scarlet Saltee, a half-Irish, half-Filipino character with autism, whose journey not only celebrates her unique perspective but also highlights Rutland’s history with comic books. 

The pioneering character Scarlet Saltee was created by Archie Comics Co-CEO Nancy Silberkleit and her freelance team to represent the neurodiverse community and highlight the value of inclusion and friendship for children who see the world differently. Purrfect Parade was written by R. Alan Brooks, and drawn by legendary comic book artist Colleen Doran, with colors by Dheeraj Kumar Mishra and letters by Amal Desai. Read Archies press release here.

The Rutland Halloween Parade takes center stage in the story and pays tribute to its long-standing presence in comics, honoring Tom Fagan, a local figure known for his passion for comics and superheroes. The story also supports animal welfare by addressing spaying and neutering cats, using the parade’s float as a creative way to start conversations. Silberkleit shares that it was important that this story taught a bit about autism, as well as responsible pet ownership, and also Vermont’s historic Rutland Parade.

To celebrate, the Downtown Rutland Partnership will be designing a float to showcase in this year’s 65th Annual Rutland Halloween Parade. Bringing all the elements together to honor Rutland’s beloved tradition, celebrate Scarlet’s new story of inclusiveness, and highlight Rutland’s long history with comics. 

• Archie Comic Digest Halloween Special is out NOW and available for purchase at the Archies Comics online store.

• The 65th Annual Halloween Parade is Saturday, October 24, 2026. Further details here.

About Archies Comics

The Archie Comics line of comic books is one of the most successful, longest running brands in the history of the comic industry. Archie Comics have sold 2 billion comics and are published in a dozen different foreign languages and distributed all over the world. Archie Comics has spawned characters whose popularity have spilled over into other media and who have become part of popular culture. SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH and JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS are just some of the many legendary franchises that are part of the Archie Comics Library.

About Rutland Halloween Parade and History with Comics

Organized by the Rutland Recreation Department, this beloved local tradition features elaborate floats, marching groups, local businesses, and thousands of costumed spectators. Held on or around Halloween in Downtown Rutland since 1960, it is recognized as one of the oldest and largest Halloween parades in the United States and even has a unique history within comic book lore, having been featured in both DC and Marvel comics. To learn more about its history read this archived Rutland Herald Article about Tom Fagan, the original force behind this event.