Parade, tree lightings to usher in holiday season
This year’s Souderton Holiday Parade theme is “Futuristic Holiday.”
SOUDERTON >> This year’s Souderton Holiday Parade theme is “Futuristic Holiday,” but that doesn’t mean the parade, now in its 60th year, will be heading off into uncharted territory.
“We are keeping it as a very classic holiday parade,” said Jordana Fitzgerald, Souderton-Telford Main Streets’ director of operations. “We’re not changing it from anything that we did last year.”
The classic parade route down Main Street, then heading out East Broad Street, stays the same.
And, of course, the classic ending with Santa Claus arriving on a firetruck remains.
That won’t be his only appearance in town that day, though.
“Santa will be with us all day on Dec. 1. We’re very lucky,” Fitzgerald said.
That’s because he’ll be back for that night’s tree lighting activities.
The parade kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, in front of Grace Bible Church on Main Street.
The parade announcers, located near the intersection of Main and Broad streets, will be Tom Quinn, Christina Divergigelis and John Ralston, Fitzgerald said.
The number of groups or individuals registered to be in the parade was still being tallied, Fitzgerald said a little more than two weeks before the parade.
An estimated 6,000 spectators came out to watch last year’s parade, due in part to good weather on parade day, parade information said.
QNB is the primary sponsor of the parade, with QNB and Flaherty Financial Services sponsoring the tree lightings in both Souderton and Telford, Fitzgerald said.
Souderton’s tree lighting activities will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, in the plaza next to 121 N. Main St. The tree lighting will be at 6 p.m.
“It’s a classic Main Street America Christmas Tree Lighting with entertainment, plenty of shopping and holiday cheer,” information on the tree lighting says.
The Souderton tree lighting is teaming up with Toys for Tots this year, Fitzgerald said.
“We’re asking everyone to bring unwrapped toys to donate,” she said.
Free photos with Santa, courtesy of photographer Bruce Kinsey, will be available at both the Souderton and Telford tree lightings, she said.
Souderton-Telford Main Streets is providing a free kids craft at the Souderton tree lighting, she said.
“This year, it’s a 3D gingerbread man,” Fitzgerald said.
There will also be live music and holiday songs, she said.
Music will be by the St. Mary’s Catholic School Choir and Rick Pultorak, who is a favorite at the Indian Valley Farmers Market, Fitzgerald said.
The evening is a good chance for people to get some food, look around town and shop, along with taking in the tree lighting, she said.
“The majority of stores stay open for the tree lighting,” she said.
“Our Main Street has changed very much, even in the past year alone,” Fitzgerald said. “There are so many things to see and do that we’re really excited to sort of show it off.”
Telford’s tree lighting is from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at the Telford train station.
In addition to the free photos with Santa, “we’ll have hot chocolate, coffee and cookies by the Girl Scouts and live music,” Fitzgerald said.
There will also be a kids craft that can be completed at the tree lighting, she said.
Souderton’s parade and tree lighting aren’t the first holiday events in town that day.
At 8 a.m., participants in the Reindeer Run/Walk, many of whom don antlers for the event, head out from Generations of Indian Valley on a 5K run or one-mile fun walk through the streets of Souderton.
Last year’s Reindeer Run, which benefits Generations and its Meals on Wheels program, raised more than $10,000, information in Generations’ monthly newsletter said. The run and walk is followed by a 9 a.m. breakfast and prize ceremony.