×

Organizers prep for winter festivities

Seasonal celebrations planned in Ebensburg, Hollidaysburg

Jack-o’-lantern candles were only recently extinguished and Thanksgiving turkeys may still be gobbling, but organizers in at least two area communities are preparing for winter holidays.

In Hollidaysburg, planning is underway for the annual Winterfest, which includes multiple events over three days later this month.

The seasonal celebration begins with a Nov. 19 Winterfest Parade. The

2 p.m. parade will start at the Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School’s football field and will travel along portions of Union, Allegheny, Front and Mulberry streets.

“I’m thinking that it may be bigger this year,” said Pati Duron, a borough secretary, who is helping to organize the event.

Duron said the parade, which typically draws large crowds, may be even longer this year due to assistance from members of the local Phoenix Volunteer Fire Department.

Festivities are scheduled to continue Nov. 24, with a light-up night beginning at

5 p.m. in the town Diamond, where a tree and the surrounding area will be illuminated with ornamental lights.

Light-up night also features events for children, including a “Santa Land” and petting zoo, Duron said.

An annual soup-sampling contest, featuring about

10 local restaurants, also is to be held, Duron said, explaining the borough is seeking volunteers to help with the event.

“A lot of it is handled in-house,” she said, noting residents can call into the borough office to volunteer. “We just mostly need them for that evening.”

Soup-sampling tickets can be purchased for $6.

Winterfest concludes

Nov. 25, with Small Business Saturday when residents are asked to patronize local shops and stores.

In Ebensburg Borough, organizers are preparing for a multi-day celebration, too.

The 12th annual Dickens of a Christmas — “a family-oriented Christmas celebration based on Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol'” — is slated for Dec. 1 through 3.

Dickens of a Christmas begins Dec. 1 with an office decorating contest at the Cambria County Courthouse and with other events to follow throughout the day, Ebensburg Community Development Director Danea Koss said.

Those events will continue until 6 p.m., when a group is slated to gather at Kimball Park for a light-up ceremony.

“All of the town will be lit up once we flip the switch,” Koss said.

The next day, children will have a chance to eat breakfast with Santa at the Young People’s Community Center.

“The breakfast with Santa definitely gets a good crowd,” Koss said.

Craft fairs, an ice sculpture showcase, a group “fat bike” ride and a vendor fair also are on the Dec. 2 Dickens schedule.

At 11 a.m. a Christmas parade will pass along the streets in downtown Ebensburg, Koss said, adding that those interested in participating can call the borough office.

“The parade is really quite extensive, as far as participants,” she said. “That’s definitely one of the most popular events.”

Events are to continue Dec. 3, and Koss estimated that as many as 2,000 people will visit the borough during the three-day event.

A full list of Dickens of a Christmas events can be seen online at ebensburg pa.com/ebensburg-dickens -events-summary/.

Information about Hollidaysburg’s Winterfest can be seen online at www.hollidaysburg.org /winterfest.

Mirror Staff Writer Sean Sauro is at 946-7535.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today