Washington kicks off holiday season
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Dianne and Jim Lesnock cozy up under a blanket for a horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown Washington Friday evening. The Lesnocks attended the town’s Christmas festivities with their friend, Sandy Kveder, also of Washington.
Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Washington High School’s marching band played a variety of Christmas carols during the annual Christmas parade in downtown Washington.
Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Charlie Fulmer, 3, of Washington, sporting a blinking red nose and carrying a star wand, waits for the start of Washington’s annual Christmas parade.
Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Leo Iddings, 5, left, his father, Craig, and friend Isla Delaney, 7, attended Washington’s annual parade. It was the first time the Iddings made it to the parade. Before watching the more than 80 units pass by, they visited the Cricket Holiday Market, where they saw Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Sadie Stockdale, 6, of Houston, poses for a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus after asking for nail polish at the Cricket Holiday Market in downtown Washington Friday evening. Stockdale attended Washington's Christmas kick-off with her newborn sister Sydney and parents Halsey and Brian Stockdale.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
A very holiday spirited Elizabeth Jenkins, Hope Jenkins and Jhonny Hubbard wait in line for a horse-drawn carriage ride during downtown Washington’s Christmas kickoff Friday evening.
Arriving early to grab excellent seats is tradition for Danielle Leclair, Renee Boden and her three children, Sebastian, 7, Alex, 12, and Zoe, 3, who snacked on Popcorn Willy's popcorn while waiting for the parade to begin in downtown Washington Friday evening.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Tom Queen, a retired Trinity School District science teacher, has performed at downtown Washington’s Christmas festivities annually for more than two decades, after purchasing his first accordion at a garage sale. The self-taught musician said the parade is “the start of Christmas for me.”
Dylan Pizzuti, 4, and Santino Pizzuti, 6, ham it up for the camera while enjoying a train ride in downtown Washington Friday evening. The kiddos were accompanied by their mother Keely Pizzuti and uncle Logan Clark; the train's conductor was Kent Jones, of Boomerang Entertainment out of Monroeville.
It was standing room only underneath the Main Street Pavilion Friday evening, where crowds packed in to watch live performances by area groups.
Beginner ballet dancers from Washington Dance Center perform to "Candy Cane," from The Nutcracker, before a full Main Street Pavilion Friday as part of downtown Washington's Christmas kickoff. The beginner ballet class is taught by Maria Brand, of Washington, and the studio is owned and directed by Stephanie McKay.
A horse-drawn carriage clops down Main Street in Washington Friday afternoon, where hundreds gathered to browse vendors, nibble good eats, enjoy drinks from the biergarten and watch live performances ahead of the annual Christmas parade.
Sons and Daughters of Italy were among the many decorated firetrucks and floats that participated in the parade in the city of Washington.
Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Washington Dance Company dancers perform in Washington’s annual Christmas parade, which featured about 80 units.
Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department decorated a fire engine for the Washington Christmas parade.
Each year, on the first Friday in December, downtown Washington transforms into a winter wonderland that exudes Christmas holiday cheer.
And Friday’s annual Christmas Parade and Cricket Holiday Market proved to be no exception.
Parade-goers lined Main Street well before 7 p.m., when firetrucks, floats and marching bands made their way through town.
“We like to come down and watch the parade. We love the old, hometown feel, and Christmas starting,” said Jenna Fulmer of Washington, who attends the parade annually with her family. “And we like seeing Santa.”
At the Holiday Market, sponsored by Cricket and the Observer-Reporter at the Community Pavilion on South Main Street, visitors were delighted by shopping, food, children’s activities – Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus ware seated in comfy chairs to greet children and listen to their Christmas wishes – and live holiday entertainment.
“I’m excited for the night before Christmas because in the morning we get our presents,” said Sadie Stockdale, 6, of Houston, who waited in line to meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus with her 3-month-old sister Sydney and their parents, Halsey and Brian.
Food trucks provided delicious snacks, foods and hot beverages, and for the first time, a biergarten was featured.
Horse-drawn carriages, decorated with holiday lights, whisked couples and families through downtown.
Tom Queen, a retired Trinity School District science teacher, stepped lightly through the crowds, playing festive music on his accordion. The self-taught musician has been performing just for fun at Washington’s Christmas festivities for decades.
“It’s the start of Christmas for me,” he said, smiling. “This is what it’s all about.”
During the parade – which included more than 80 units – festive floats represented a number of churches, nonprofits, businesses and local organizations. Emergency services vehicles also joined in the fun, adding Christmas-colored lights and wreaths to the front of ambulances and fire engines.
“The reaction from the community is really exciting. This event is for the city, and it’s so important that the community is involved,” said Shana Brown, Main Street Manager for the Washington Business District Authority.
Brown noted that several local businesses and restaurants remained open for shoppers and diners throughout the holiday market and parade.
Washington and Trinity high school bands, their instruments strung with lights, performed Christmas carols to the crowd’s delight.
Craig Iddings of Washington Borough, his son, Leo, 5, and a family friend, Isla Delaney, 7, watched the parade for the first time.
“We usually miss it, but we made it a point to come and see it this year,” said Iddings, noting the temperature in the mid-40s made it a pleasant night to watch a parade and walk around the Holiday Market.