Downtown Waynesburg has the Spirit of the Season

Downtown Waynesburg has the Spirit of the Season

Plan your visit to Downtown Waynesburg from 5 to 8:00 pm on Friday, Nov. 30, for the 10th annual Holiday Open House, sponsored by EQT and presented by Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful. Serving as the kickoff to the Christmas shopping season, the Holiday Open House will feature extended hours at many Downtown Waynesburg stores, live entertainment, seasonal foods and fun for the whole family.

This year brings back many favorite activities like the free wagon rides, caricatures, pictures with Santa, the Memories & Melodies DJ Party on the west end, and the Greene County Department of Recreation’s Letters from Santa Station. New this year will be musical performance by area artists on the east end and an outdoor eating experience.

Beginning at 4 pm, several blocks of High Street will be closed to motorized traffic. Activities start at 5pm with Santa & Mrs. Claus on site to welcome children, visitors and shoppers alike. Free pictures with Santa will be provided by McMillen Photography at the Greene County Courthouse and Mrs. Claus will be handing out free Santa bags with treats for the first 150 children, compliments of First Federal Savings & Loan. All the other activities begin around 5pm as well, and at 6pm there will be a tree lighting ceremony for the big Christmas tree that graces the front of Greene County Courthouse.

Mark your calendar and watch for the specially decorated store fronts to remind you as well. Most downtown merchants will be lighting and decorating their windows in advance to compete for the coveted snow crystal award and cash prizes for best decorated windows, sponsored by Community Bank.

“This special evening has become a holiday tradition for many people in the area, reminiscent of an old fashioned Christmas, with carolers and all the sparkle and magic of small town America,” says event chair Joanne Marshall of Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency. There will be plenty of shopping available, both indoors and outdoors. As usual, fire barrels will be lit along High Street for holiday shoppers to pause for a visit and warm their hands.

One of the most popular activities of the evening are the horse-drawn wagon rides by Rocky Ridge Acres. The free wagon rides start on High St. and take riders through College Parks.

“The Holiday Open House is a great way to share the season with other people and spend time with your family and friends. Start your holiday celebrations with a wagon ride through the decorated parks and streets, enjoy festive musical entertainment, and grab a bite to eat under the stars… there is so much to see and do,” Joanne adds.

The Letters from Santa Station is presented in conjunction with the Greene County Department of Recreation’s annual Letters from Santa program. Children who come with their parents to the Holiday Open House can write their letters to Santa that evening, or pick-up the forms to send in later. Either way, thanks to Greene County Dept. of Rec’s special coordination with the North Pole, each child who participates will receive a personal letter from Santa.

New this year, the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW will be roasting whole chickens. The chickens and 2 sides – green beans and macaroni salad - will be available for $12; orders can be eaten downtown amidst the festivities or to-go. Early reservations are recommended to ensure you get one of these delicious chickens! Call Tourism at 724-627-8687 by November 23rd to make your reservation.

Lippencott Alpacas will also be at the festivities to welcome the holiday shoppers with their adorable live alpacas and alpaca apparel, accessories, yarns and gifts. Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency’s souvenir maps, hand-drawn by local artist Leslie Fehling and featuring the locations of all activities, food and participating merchants, will be distributed to help guide shoppers through the festivities.

EQT is the lead sponsor of the Holiday Open House and Community Bank underwrites the window decorating competition among businesses. You can join in the judging by casting your vote for the best display at each participating location. Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful is a Main Street program that operates in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center. Main Street programs emphasize critical time-sensitive stabilization and revitalization of historic downtowns business districts. For more information on the Holiday Open House, call 724-627-8119.

There’s More the Next Day…

The following day, Saturday, Dec. 2, Waynesburg Area Chamber of Commerce will present the 2018 Christmas Parade beginning at 2pm. The execution of the parade is underwritten by FirstEnergy Foundation. Miss Rain Day 2018, Lauren Schroyer and the Chamber’s 2018 Distinguished Service Award and McCracken Legacy Award recipients, Sister Audrey Quinn, the family of the late G. William “Bill” Gensler and representatives from EQT will have the honor of leading the parade down High Street as it’s Grand Marshals.

WCYJ Television from Waynesburg University will videotape the parade for later broadcast on local stations. Late entries will be accepted in the parade through Nov. 21st. If you want more info on the parade, call the Chamber office at 724-627-5926 or visit the website at www.greenechamber.com.