Dreaming of a ‘GREENE’ Christmas
Santa Claus will be very busy in Greene County this weekend, when he will participate in the annual Waynesburg Christmas Parade (pictured on right) and the Holiday Open House on Friday, as well as the “Breakfast with Santa” event (pictured on left) at the county fairgrounds on Saturday. These events will be just a few of the many holiday events scheduled to be held throughout the county next weekend and during the Christmas season.
WAYNESBURG — Forget Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s the first weekend in December that traditionally kicks off the holiday season in Greene County, with festivities beginning today with the eighth annual Holiday Open House in downtown Waynesburg.
Holiday Open House
Sponsored by EQT and presented by Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful, the Holiday Open House will feature extended hours at downtown Waynesburg stores, live entertainment, seasonal foods and fun for the whole family.
Beginning at 4 p.m., several blocks of High Street will be closed to motorized traffic. Activities start at 5 p.m. with Santa on site to welcome children, visitors and shoppers alike. At 6 p.m., local officials will take part in the lighting of the Christmas tree on the steps of the courthouse.
“I believe we will create a festive and jolly atmosphere for all who attend,” said event chairman Caitlin Carlisle. “We are hoping fop a large turnout regardless of the weather.”
More than 25 merchants will extend their hours and offer special sales, door prizes and refreshments. Street vendors will be out selling seasonal treats such as roasted nuts, cider and cotton candy. Fire barrels will be lit along High Street for holiday shoppers to pause for a visit or to warm their hands.
Horse-drawn wagons will offer shoppers a ride through the decorated parks and streets of town at no charge. Music will be provided throughout the evening by several area vocal and instrumental groups, and Lippencott Alpacas will also be at the festivities to welcome the holiday shoppers.
Artist Jeff Harris will be back and offering free caricatures on commemorative Holiday Open House posters. “Flix on Brix” is also returning this year featuring a movie projected on the side of the Community Foundation building.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the season with your family and see all that Downtown Waynesburg has to offer,” Carlisle said. “Merchants will be staying open until 8:30 or 9 p.m. with the idea of attracting new customers and creating a sense of community,” she said.
EQT is the lead sponsor of this year’s Holiday Open House with additional support from the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency. Community Bank is sponsoring a window decorating competition among businesses.
Breakfast with Santa
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be the special guests at “Breakfast with Santa” from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday on the lower level of the 4-H Building at the Greene County Fairgrounds. Admission is $8 per person and includes a breakfast catered by the Greene County Career & Technology Center Culinary Arts Program. Children will receive a picture with Santa, a Santa hat and a special treat. New this year, children attending will decorate cookies, including a cookie Christmas tree ornament.
Also, now through Dec 14, local children are invited to send letters to Santa in care of the Department of Recreation. Any child wishing to receive a personalized letter from Santa can simply send a letter with a completed letter request form to Greene County Department of Recreation, ATTN: Santa Claus, 107 Fairgrounds Road, Waynesburg, PA 15370.
Letter request forms include the child’s contact and basic information, including gender, age and any gifts requested from Santa, and must be completed by a parent or guardian.
The “Dear Santa” template is available online at www.co.greene.pa.us.
A completed form must accompany each letter, and please limit one request per child. Children should receive the letters before Christmas. There is no cost for a letter from Santa as funding has been provided through various sponsors and fundraising efforts the Department of Recreation holds throughout the year.
The holiday activities are sponsored by the Greene County commissioners, Department of Recreation and Chapman Corp.
Waynesburg Christmas Parade
The Waynesburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Parade will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday.
The parade will follow a new route again this year beginning at Belko Foods on West High Street, traveling East on High Street to Cumberland Street at St. Ann’s Church where it will end with parade units turning onto Cumberland and Naser streets.
Ninety-two entries representing schools, churches, civic organizations, and businesses from all over the county are scheduled to participate..
Bryn Patton, Miss Rain Day 2016, and the chamber’s 2016 Distinguished Service Award winners, Gene and Judy Rush, the family of the late Dave Cumberledge and the 2016 McCracken Legacy Award winner, First Federal Savings & Loan, will have the honor of leading the parade down High Street as its grand marshals.
Trophies and ribbons will be awarded to the top three floats as well as those showing the Most Original, Best Design and Most Spirit. Judging will take place during the line up in the staging area. And of course Santa will be the guest of honor at the end of the parade.
Residents living around the parks are reminded that line-up will begin in that area at noon on parade day. The United Methodist Church parking lot, Hook Law Office parking lot and both Baptist Church parking lots will be in use and parking will not be available.
Parking is not permitted on the following streets between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. — Franklin Street between West and Washington, Richhill Street from College to High, High Street from West to Porter and Cumberland from Naser to Greene.
Several streets will be blocked off to traffic not associated with the parade starting at noon and ending at 4 p.m. Route 19 south traffic and High Street traffic from McCracken’s Pharmacy to the First Baptist Church will also be detoured beginning at 2 p.m. Traffic in the area will be detoured using West Street and Franklin Street. Westbound traffic should use the left lane, turning left at McCracken’s Pharmacy and following the posted detour. Traffic traveling northbound should use the right lane turning right at McCracken’s Pharmacy and following the posted detour.
Christmas in the ‘Burg
What better way to wind down from a long day of parade watching than a food and spirit tasting experience from 5-8 p.m. Saturday in downtown Waynesburg.
Brett Moore, who is spearheading this event for the second consecutive year, said entrees will be available at First National Bank; wine and spirit sampling, along with appetizers, at In Motion Dance Studio; an old-fashioned cookie contest at the Fashion Shop and pictures with Santa at McMillan Photography.
“The cost is $25 per person and that includes all four venues, plus the cover charge for the after party at the American Legion,” Moore said. “The money we raise goes to the Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation.”
Carmichaels Light Up Night
The annual Chamber of Commerce Light Up Night will be held Saturday in the town square in front of Community Bank in Carmichaels. The event starts 5 p.m. and is open to the entire community.
As part of the Light Up Night, the Carmichaels Elementary Musical Mikes, under the direction of Erin Drury, will sing, and the Carmichaels Area High School Band, under the direction of Joanna Walker, will march to the square.
Santa will arrive on a fire truck provided by the Carmichaels-Cumberland Township Volunteer Fire Department, and will be escorted by Morgan Voithofer, the 2016 Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Queen. After Santa arrives chamber members will pass out treats to children up to 12 years old.
MC Dave Plavi will provide music as part of the festivities.
The Christmas tree for this year’s Light Up Night was donated by Fred Clark of Clarks Nursery and decorated by Carmichaels Borough.
The Carmichaels Area Chamber of Commerce promotes and advances the local business community, and sponsors activities, like Light Up Night, for the local area.
Museum Open House
The annual Christmas Open House at the Greene County Historical Society Museum will be held from 3-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The museum will be adorned in an array of holiday decorations, antique toy displays and a silent auction. Candlelight tours and seasonal goodies will be available during each evening. Santa Claus will also be there to take pictures. Admission is free.
For more info, visit www.greenecountyhistory.org or call 724-627-3204.
Musical Mikes
The Carmichaels Musical Mikes Chorus will sponsor its annual Holiday Craft Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Carmichaels Elementary School.
A wide selection of hand-made items from area crafters will be on sale. The Musical Mikes will perform Christmas concerts at 12:30 and 3 p.m. and there also will be a raffle, Chinese auction and food.
There is no charge for admission to the craft show and all proceeds from the craft show go to support the choral music program at Carmichaels Elementary School.