Shen. kicks off Christmas with extended parade

SHENANDOAH – Though a year like no other nixed our town’s Christmas kickoff like no other, Santa Claus arrived here today aboard the Polish American Fire Company’s antique Seagrave engine.

Normally, he would arrive via aircraft, either parachuting from an airplane or landing a helicopter at Shenandoah’s Veterans Memorial Stadium before parading from the football field to downtown.

This year, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the jolly old elf arrived aboard the fire engine and paraded through the entire town, making three passes between the east and west ends following a run down Main Street.

The Christmas kickoff was organized by Ateeco, Inc., makers of Mrs. T’s Pierogies, in cooperation with Downtown Shenandoah, Inc.

Ateeco has sponsored the revived Santa Drop Christmas kickoff for the past 14 years, though this year, the drop was nixed in favor of a safer alternative amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Led by the Shenandoah Police and flanked by the borough’s five fire companies and Shenandoah Ambulance, Santa waved from aboard the antique engine at passersby.

Along with the parade, a mailbox and Christmas village is set up at Veterans Memorial Park alongside the Damato Post building, where children can write and send letters to Santa. Letters with return addresses will receive a response, Ateeco said in a media release.

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Kaylee Lindenmuth

Kaylee Lindenmuth is a Shenandoah native with a passion for journalism and the community she calls home.

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