Perkasie illuminates holiday season
Santa made an early appearance this Christmas in Perkasie for the borough’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony Saturday, Dec. 1.
Local history buffs say PerNDVLH wDV WKH firVW WRwQ LQ WKH country to celebrate tree lightings outdoors.
It’s believed the tradition started in Perkasie in 1909, while the popular Madison Square Park Christmas tree lighting started in 1912.
“We’re proud of the fact that we’ve been doing this longer than any other community in the country,” said Cathy Weierbach, Perkasie Olde Towne Association president, in a press release. “It’s just another thing that makes Perkasie special.”
In addition to the tree lighting Saturday, there was also festive, musical entertainment by the Pennridge School District Choir made up of faculty, staff and a student or two, as well as by the Mike Greer & Co. band.
Business and community groups manned stands along the streets of Seventh and Market where the event took place and sold baked goods and beverages or gift items.
The night kicked off with Mayor John Hollenbach reciting “The Night Before Christmas” from memory under the large tent full of residents. There were also free old-fash- ioned horse and carriage rides and a holiday train display at the Perkasie Electric building.
Joe Ferry, vice president of POTA, the sponsor of the event, said the association wanted this year to be a “whole evening experience,” so during the day, there were free rides on the carousel, which was recently repaired, and the music and train display provided more activities for residents to enjoy.
Stores were open and bustling with customers Saturday night, too. The Treasure Trove on Seventh Street, for example, had so many customers that the store workers were only allowing a
certain amount of people to go in before others came out.
Mike Reiss, a new resident to Perkasie who lives in the business district, said last year was KLs firsW WLPH aW WKH WrHH lighting, which he said was his favorite part of the night.
“I like the train display, too. The whole thing is fun — it’s good for a family. And it helps the local businesses.”
Weierbach said there were nine to 10 business and community vendors that night and about 60 or so Olde Towne volunteers who organized the event — a small number considering all of the activities planned for the night, she said. Weierbach said the association is always looking for more volunteers.
The Woman’s Club of Perkasie pitched in to help sell the borough’s collectible Christmas tree ornaments.
Kim Weichel, also a POTA member, said the ornaments were more than a decade-old tradition.
“They’re usually stars, but one year it was a snowflaNH. ... 7KHy JR OLNH Fra]y,” Weichel said.
This year, the ornament was a six-inch star sold for $5.
“They [the Women’s Club] are just awesome. We can’t do it without them,” Weierbach said.
Pat Schuck, president of the Woman’s Club, said this was her second year at the tree lighting. Last year was “thrilling,” and she said she liked watching Santa Claus light the tree and watching the children. This year, she took an earlier shift selling ornaments so that she could watch the tree lighting ceremony.
Weichel and Weierbach said they both enjoyed the event because it promotes a feeling of Christmas and because of the kids, too. Weierbach said she remembers last year seeing one girl on her father’s lap beaming, with big eyes, when Santa threw out candy.
“You feel like a 3-year-old again,” Weichel said.
Santa arrived in Perkasie around T p.m. that night to the sounds of residents singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”
6WandLnJ Ln WKH firHWrXFN’s cherry picker, Santa rose up to the top of the Christmas tree and, with the help of the mayor and a 6-year-old girl named Nicole Louis, the giant tree lit up. Then, from above, Santa threw candy to the crowd.
Nicole was selected to help light the Christmas tree because she and her family brought nonperishable food items to the event for Pennridge FISH. Nicole’s name was entered into the drawing, and she was randomly picked.
After the tree lighting, Santa was available to take pictures with at the RE/ MAu440 at Seventh and Market streets.
That’s where Nicole and her mother, Jean Louis, were waiting after the tree lighting.
“She [Nicole] loves the horses and Santa Claus, of course, coming. The whole town lit up tonight — it’s nice,” Jean said.
Jean, who has been coming to the tree lighting for years, said this year was different from other years in that it drew a bigger crowd.
This year, Nicole is hoping that Santa will bring her Squinkies and a Furby for Christmas. Hint hint. To see video from the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, visit PerkasieNewsHerald.com!