Glow Up draws festive crowd
Hundreds gather for Christmas kickoff
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Maria Michelone, 6, of Hollidaysburg, stands with Santa for a picture at Altoona’s Glow Up festivities Friday evening.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Stepsisters Quinn Lauver, 5, (right) and Noelle Hill, 5, both of Altoona, pose for a picture in front of the Christmas tree at Altoona's Glow Up festivities Friday evening.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Kelly Sipes directs the Altoona Vocal Ensemble at Altoona's Glow Up festivities Friday evening.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Maria Michelone, 6, of Hollidaysburg, stands with Santa for a picture at Altoona’s Glow Up festivities Friday evening.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Stepsisters Quinn Lauver, 5, (right) and Noelle Hill, 5, both of Altoona, pose for a picture in front of the Christmas tree at Altoona's Glow Up festivities Friday evening.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Kelly Sipes directs the Altoona Vocal Ensemble at Altoona's Glow Up festivities Friday evening.
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Rain couldn't dampen the Christmas spirit of festive revelers attending Altoona's Glow Up celebration Friday evening.
Hundreds of people gathered at Heritage Plaza to see the tree lighting, patronize vendors selling crafts and food, visit local businesses, take their children to a petting zoo, listen to the Altoona Vocal Ensemble and watch Christmas movies and a fireworks display.
Alexis and Kent Stover of Altoona brought their three children to the event, saying they are big Christmas people and usually come to things put on by the city.
"It's nice, it brings people together," Alexis said. "I wish I had stuff like this when I was a kid."
The Stovers were exiting the petting zoo when their youngest daughter, 2, began crying, distraught over having to leave the bunnies.
"She liked them a lot," Alexis said. "It's something fun to do with the family."
Their oldest daughter, Delilah, 5, said her favorite animal was the pony "because she liked me."
Kent said, laughing, that he wasn't sure if their son, 3, liked any of the animals because he would touch them and then pull his hand away to look at it.
"He knows what to do now," Kent said when their son started to stand in his stroller to look at the animals again. "He's ready to go again."
Claysburg resident Ashlee Mulhollen similarly took her son Ryker, 4, to the event "mostly for the petting zoo" and fireworks. One thing that stood out to her, though, was the vocal ensemble.
"I don't know what her name is, but one of the girls had a solo and man, could she sing," Mulhollen said.
They would be back for the parade Saturday, she said.
Altoona's Spirit of Christmas Parade will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday and feature an extended route to accommodate the large crowd, City Clerk/Public Information Officer Linda Rickens Schellhammer wrote in a release. The parade will form at 17th Street and Ninth Avenue and travel to 12th Avenue and 12th Street to 11th Avenue to 16th Street.
At the Gable's building, the Blair County NAACP offered pictures with Santa to benefit the Mountain Lion BackPack Program. Attendees were asked to bring either $10 or $5 and a food item for the program, NAACP Chapter President Andrae Holsey wrote in a release.
Hollidaysburg resident Mandy Michelone took advantage of the opportunity, bringing her two daughters to meet Santa. While younger daughter Carmela, 4, decided not to meet Santa after all, Maria, 6, stood for a picture before asking for a Paw Patrol "Chase Car."
"She's still at that age where she's excited to meet him until she actually sees him," Michelone said of Carmela. "They were very excited to drive around and see all of the lights."
The pictures with Santa, along with refreshments, will continue Saturday from 3 until 8 p.m.
The Blair Emergency Services Chaplain Platoon will hold its annual Ugly Christmas Sweater 5K and 2 Mile Fun Walk at 9 a.m. Saturday at Heritage Plaza.
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.