Holiday Parade, tree lightings scheduled for Dec. 2

SOUDERTON » Banjos are optional, but when this year’s Souderton Holiday Parade heads down Main Street on Dec. 2, it will have the feel of a strumming and strutting good time.

The strumming is for this year’s “Silver & Gold” inspiration from the Burl Ives holiday-related song.

“Instead of having a theme, we just picked an inspiration song. We thought it would kind of fit,” said Souderton-Telford Main Streets Manager Joanne Coppens.

The strutting is with the appearance of Mummers group Woodland String Band.

“This is the first time they’ll be in our parade, so we’re pretty excited about that,” Coppens said.

The parade, which starts at 11 a.m., is part of a daylong series of holiday activities in Souderton, including the Reindeer Run and breakfast at Generations of Indian Valley, the parade, block parties and open houses and Souderton’s tree lighting program in the Main Street hollow 6 to 8 p.m.

This year’s parade marshal is Ernie Reich, of Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center. Reich won an Alpine Intermediate Grand Slalom gold medal in the World Special Olympics in Austria.

“It’s nice to be able to showcase another nonprofit who’s doing really good works and to celebrate his accomplishments,” Coppens said.

Harleysville Bank is this year’s parade sponsor.

“We usually have over 80 entries in the parade and over 1,500 people participating,” Coppens said. “I’m definitely seeing some new faces, so I expect us to exceed that this year.”

Main Street will be closed to traffic from 10 a.m. to about 1:30 p.m. on parade day.

“Detours are posted, so you can get around town. Parking maps are on the Main Streets website as well,” Coppens said.

As usual, the parade will end with Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving on a fire truck.

Promotion for the new Souderton app will take place during the parade, Coppens said.

“They’ll be handing out grab bags for the kids to use to gather their candy that has the QR codes so they can find out about other Souderton events and other Souderton businesses,” she said.

The day will also include open houses and block parties at Souderton businesses, Coppens said. During the parade, there will be an open house at N. F. Landis & Son. Following the parade, there will be a block party at Ruth & Co. Aveda Salon. Additional parade day events will be posted on the Main Streets website and the app, Coppens said.

Souderton’s tree lighting will start at 6 p.m.

“We’ll have a progressive craft for the kids to complete and get a gift when they’re done,” Coppens said.

“Galena Brass will be joining us that night. The mayor will be lighting the tree,” she said. “There will be music, the shops will be open.”

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in Chrysalis Hair Design for free photos with children, she said.

Telford’s tree lighting will be 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8 and will include live music, cookies and free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Coppens said.

“Race to the Taste food truck will be at both of the tree lightings,” she said.

The Souderton Telford Business Decorating Contest will also again be held this year.

“You vote online for your favorite,” Coppens said.

There are two categories in the contest — Merry & Bright and Most Creative — along with a People’s Choice winner for the business that gets the most total votes.

“That’s who gets the golden fruitcake,” Coppens said. “There’s cash prizes as well.”

Main Streets is hoping to see more businesses participate this year than ever before, she said.

“We want everybody to dress up their buildings and make them welcoming for the season,” she said.

“Each year it grows a little,” she said. “This year, hopefully, it’ll grow a lot.”

“Santa Pig needs some competition,” she said, referring to Jesse’s Barbecue & Local Market perennial winner in the decorating contest.