Nov 23, 2005 By Christine Haines 3 min read

BROWNSVILLE – Santa arrives by fire truck Friday in Brownsville as the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce hosts Light Up Night. More than 3,000 candlelit luminaria will line the streets of the parade route, which will start at the Hiller Volunteer Fire Hall.

Genevieve Capatosti said numerous volunteers will be setting out and lighting the luminaria, starting at 4 p.m.

Capatosti said this year’s volunteers include the Interact Club from Brownsville Area High School, the Hiller Ladies Auxiliary, the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation, Boy Scout Troops 1423 and 3006, the Sharon Givens family, Jack and Suzanne Lawver, the West Brownsville Ladies Auxiliary, the North Side Ladies Auxiliary, Ricky Ricco Jr., and Chris Griner and Lori Spina from Tara Hospital at Brownsville.

The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. and winds through Hiller and the Upper South Side, down High Street to Snowden Square, then through the Lower South Side. The fire trucks and police cars will then cross the Inter-County Bridge into West Brownsville and Blainesburg before crossing back into Brownsville on the Lane Bane Bridge. The parade will then go up Union Street to Route 166, where it will turn around at Fort Burd Presbyterian Church and return to Hiller Fire Hall.

“We’ll come back to Hiller Fire Hall to have Santa hand out treats,” Capatosti said.

Treats will be given out to children 12 and under and parents can take pictures of their children with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Capatosti said.

There will be additional Light Up Night activities at Nemacolin Castle on Front Street, where the Christmas Candlelight tours will begin. The tours will be held from 6-9 p.m. Fridays, and from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 18.

The castle grounds will also be candlelit on Light-Up Night, with luminaria lining the castle wall, and guests can roast marshmallows over an open fire. Music on the grounds will include the Sam Bill Jr. Saxophone Quartet and the Brownsville Area Middle School Choir. A craft booth will be set up where children 12 and under can make a gift for someone special.

“Christmas Through the Years” will serve as the theme at the castle this year with different winter scene pictures of local places in Brownsville displayed. The historic Nemacolin Castle will be adorned with some fresh trees and greens, flowers and traditional decorations in keeping with the time period of the house. Hot wassail and cookies are served to guests. There is a charge for castle tours.

No reservations are needed except for groups of 20 or more. Groups may schedule at earlier hours, and there is a group rate.