Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
HUGE PARADE TURNOUT FILLS THE SIDEWALKS
Marching bands, dancers and floats travel down streets during parade
KENNETT SQUARE » The folks in Kennett Square were hungry for a parade, having had the Halloween Parade cancelled because of rain.
On Friday, the crowds arrived early for the borough’s Holiday Light Parade, which was due to start at 6:15 p.m. But by 5:30 p.m. the sidewalks were already crowded and in the next half hour, the spectators were even lining the way four-deep in some places.
The weather was perfect — a chill in the air, but dry and not too cold. The ambiance was good too, with music playing and stores decorated along the way. And while on most occasions the sidewalk congestion usually lightens up about two block south of the middle of town, this year the watchers were in heavy volume all the way down to the starting point at Meredith Street.
This year, the traditions of Santa Claus coming and the lighting of the town tree, followed by stores open until late were the usual fair. But the big and growing attraction this year was the lights that covered the vehicles.
From small pickup trucks to the largest tractor trailers were all engulfed in bright Christmas lights.
Especially impressive was the line of fire trucks from local companies that joined the procession out of Lincoln Street. Whether it was just the firefighters’ frequent use of lighting for fire or the extra time and effort they put in for the decorations, their trucks were magnificent.
One float that featured an elegant array of reindeer in the sky and bearing a heavy load of lights ran into a problem when the generator — and thus the lights — failed. One worker restarted it, and the crowd cheered.
As they have done in the past years, Longwood Performing Arts brought a Rockettes’s-like performance with high stepping and dance that revved the crowd up for the marchers that would follow.
Also marching were the Kennett High School Band, community nonprofits and popular clubs.
One group marched as a “Nutcracker” theme, while others like the Technical College High School brought simple banners and signs.
It was a short parade, but satisfying.
It ended with the arrival of Santa Claus and his wife in an antique car driven by Last Chance Garage Lou Mandich. After they rode through town to the delight of the children, they lit the tree to a public countdown.
This was the second appearance of Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus (friends of Fran and Andrea Durynski) this holiday season.
Already, they appeared at the Chadds Ford Shops tree lighting on Saturday.
On Dec. 2, Santa and Christine will visit the Kennett Symphony concert, “Pops Goes the Holidays” at Unionville High School.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m., and they will appear before the chorus in the second half of the program.
If you miss them at the concert, catch them on Sunday, Dec. 3 at Brandywine Ace Pet and Farm on Route 926 in Pocopson. They will be there from noon to 2 p.m. Bring your dog, cat, horse, gerbils or whatever to meet the Christmas couple.
If you are turned on by lights and sirens, meet up with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus in the center square in West Grove on Thursday, Dec. 7. They will arrive just following the lighting of the town tree. Then they will parade with children to the Garage youth center down the street, listen to gift wishes and pose for pictures with the kids. The ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m.