Girardville kicks off Christmas season with parade, tree lighting
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Santa waves from the back of Frank Zangari's pickup truck during the Girardville Santa Parade on Nov. 26, 2020.
GIRARDVILLE – This community welcomed Santa Claus and kicked off the Christmas season tonight with a parade and tree lighting.
The event, Mayor Michael Zangari said, was organized by the Girardville Good Time Club, in conjunction with the borough and its emergency services.
The parade made its way through the majority of the borough. Led by Girardville Police, Santa, aboard Frank Zangari’s pickup truck, was flanked by Girardville’s emergency services — the Rangers Hose, Girard Hose, and Girardville Ambulance.
Normally, the parade would end at the Girard Hose Co. with a meet-and-greet with Santa afterward.
This year, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the ending was moved to borough hall so that attendees could flow in and out of the building in one direction.
The meet-and-greet was also socially-distanced, with Santa and children seated apart. Volunteers sanitized the child’s seat after every two visitors as well.
Prior to the meet-and-greet was a new addition to the tradition, a tree lighting. Zangari, joined by Santa, lit the tree using a Christmas-themed lever.
Zangari said the event is organized by a group of volunteers each year and was welcomed by the community again this year.
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