Local communities plan events to welcome in holiday season
Local communities are preparing to kick off the holiday season with special events that include parades, lights and Santa Claus.
Uniontown Downtown Business District Authority announces the 2016 Home for the Holidays Parade and Visit From Santa, sponsored by Neubauer’s Flowers & Market House, will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes Santa and Mrs. Claus on its 28th annual Light Up Night on Nov. 25
The seventh annual “It’s a Connellsville Christmas” will be held Dec. 3 and Dec. 4, hosted by Downtown Connellsville, an initiative of the Fayette County Cultural Trust.
The popular events are a great way for the communities to spread holiday cheer and are put together through the work of many volunteers and donor support.
Uniontown Mayor Bernie Kasievich noted, “We’re trying to make each year better and better. This is one of the best ones the city has ever done. We’ve gotten a lot of support. I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be really good.”
Carl DellaPenna, Brownsville chamber president, said in a release, “Light-Up Night is made possible with scores of volunteers. The chamber is indebted each year to their willingness to make this night a success and fun for all.”
Daniel Cocks, executive director of Fayette County Cultural Trust, said, “Community Spirit is alive and well, and the pride associated with this event is evident in all the different organizations that have pulled together to make this happen.”
Uniontown’s Thursday event is conducted by the Downtown Business Authority in partnership with the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, the National Road Heritage Corridor and the State Theatre Center for the Arts. Additional events following the parade are being hosted by the City of Uniontown with co-chairwoman Tina Allen.
According to a news release, parade line up is at 5 p.m. on Main Street at the Fayette County Courthouse. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. and runs to George Marshall Memorial Plaza at Five Corners. No parking is allowed on Main Street after 2 p.m. Thursday. Vehicles parked along the parade route will be removed.
Following the parade, a number of activities will be held on Main Street between Gallatin and Beeson Avenues.
They include acknowledging the tree donation by Neubauer’s Flowers & Market House and lighting of the City Holiday Tree by the mayor at Storey Square.
Uniontown Area High School Cheerleaders will serve as “elves” to help with activities in Storey Square that include a Visit with Santa Claus, writing a letter to Santa, Mrs. Claus reading stories to children and giving each a free storybook and children’s holiday craft making. Children can also make a clay ornament with the Phoenix Art Center in the Union Trust Building adjacent to the State Theatre.
There will be performances by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Band, Albert Gallatin Senior High School Choir, school and church carolers. Visitors can enjoy free hot chocolate and cookies. Wagon rides start at Peter Street at the rear of Storey Square.
The State Theatre is hosting “Cookies for a Cause” with 14 non-profits selling holiday cookies, immediately following the parade. Pepperberries will sell Sand Hill Berries’ chocolate raspberry cookies from 2 to 8 p.m. to benefit the Fayette County Community Action Food Bank.
Food and craft vendors will be in the 911 parking lot starting at 4:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce announces West Brownville Fire Department, 238 Middle St., will host Santa and Mrs. Claus, who are scheduled to arrive about 7:30 p.m. Nov. 25 to pass out treats and listen to children’s special wishes.
The event gets underway at 6 p.m. with an eight-mile procession of holiday-decorated emergency vehicles with Santa and Mrs. Claus as grand marshals. Luminiara-lined streets and decorated homes will light their way on both sides of the Monongahela River as the procession weaves through Hiller, Brownsville Borough and Blainsburg before making its way to the West Brownsville fire hall. This year’s treat sponsor is Pat Ballon, owner of Brownsville Do It Best Hardware.
A news release noted, “Fire departments and their auxiliaries, high school groups, civic organizations, Boy Scouts and residents of all ages come together each year to line streets with nearly 1,500 jugs and candles along the procession’s route in a memorable display of community spirit and goodwill for all.”
It’s A Connellsville Christmas includes activities taking place throughout the city over Dec. 3-4.
A complimentary shuttle service, sponsored by Nelson Bus Lines, will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 3 on a continuous loop through the city as well as to the Ice Mine.
A brochure lists the schedule as:
Dec. 3: 8-10 a.m. Breakfast with Santa, Murphy Hall, 701 N. Pittsburgh St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Connellsville Historical Society Home Tour and Cookie Sales, Gibson House, 217 Patterson Ave.; open house, horse-and-buggy rides, Cobblestone Hotel, 325 N. First St.; Harry Clark’s Model Railroad, Connellsville Canteen, 131 W. Crawford Ave; cookie sales, book signing, story telling, wine glass painting, wreath sale, Appalachian Creativity Center, 139 W. Crawford Ave.; ice skating, The Ice Mine, 5001 W. Crawford Ave. $5 per person, includes rentals.; craft and vendor sale, Carnegie Free Library, 299 S. Pittsburgh St., and at FitFam Studio, 121 N. Pittsburgh St.; Children’s Creativity Zone, craft and vendor sale, museum and thrift store, HObo Train Display, Hall of Trees, Christmas Show at Connellsville Community Center, 201 E. Fairview Ave.
10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. photos with Santa – Connellsville Community Center, free, sponsored by Wal-mart; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Live Nativity – Community Ministries side lot, 110 W. Crawford Ave.; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. kids’ activities, concessions, treat Bags, East Fire Station, hosted by the Connellsville Chamber of Commerce, West Apple and North Arch streets.
5 p.m. Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Connellsville Chamber of Commerce, starts at New Haven Hose Co., proceeds along Crawford Avenue to Pittsburgh Street to Apple Street; 6:30 p.m. Musical performance, Wesley United Methodist Church, 417 S. Pittsburgh St., dessert reception to follow, sponsored by the Fayette County Cultural Trust.
Dec. 4: Noon to 4 p.m. craft and vendor sale and HObo Railroad display. Connellsville Community Center; 1-4 p.m. craft and vendor sale, FitFam Studio.
Church tours are available: First Baptist, 301 S. Pittsburgh St, 1-5 p.m. Dec. 3; Presbyterian, 711 S. Pittsburgh, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 3 and noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 4; Calvary Assembly of God, 1316 S. Pittsburgh St., 11 a.m to 3 p.m. Dec. 3; Trinity Lutheran Church, 126 E. Fairview Ave., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 3; Central Fellowship Church, 316 N. Arch St., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 3; St. Rita Roman Catholic, 116 S. Second St., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 3; Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic, 148 E. Crawford Ave., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 3; St. John’s Evangelist Roman Catholic, 908 W. Crawford Ave., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 3; St. John’s Lutheran, 144 E. South St., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 3; Church of the Brethren, 1100 Vine St., 1-2 p.m. Dec. 4.