HERMITAGE — People were lined up shoulder to shoulder and six or seven deep Saturday along East State Street in Hermitage.
They came from all over Mercer County for the 12th annual Hermitage Light Up Parade. Some started lining up more than an hour before the parade started at 6 p.m. to get a good view of the floats and bands as they passed by.
Kim Taylor of Reynolds and her family put out their folding chairs at 5 p.m. near Hillcrest Memorial Park so her kids could get a good look at the parade’s headliner.
“They came to see Santa Claus and the lights,” Mrs. Taylor said about her children and some of her friends’ children.
“I bribe them all year long,” she said. “I tell them, ‘You better be good if you want to see Santa Claus.’”
Things started off with an armed forces float, with a tribute to soldiers who died in the line of duty. It was met by standing ovations as it moved down the street.
Christmas-themed floats, high school marching bands, local politicians and fire trucks, police cars and ambulances passed along the parade route, ushering in the holiday season.
This year’s floats included a remote-controlled Frosty the snowman and a “Wizard of Oz”-themed entry, with the Wicked Witch of the West hiding inside a Christmas Tree.
Madison Houck, 8, of Sharpsville, said that was her favorite part of the parade.
“I liked the little wizard,” she said.
Madison, who performed in the parade with the Twirling Angels, was dressed as a reindeer, complete with a red nose.
Many people commented on how the 50-degree weather was perfect for the event.
“The weather is wonderful,” said Becky Patton of Sharpsville.
Mrs. Patton asked her young son, Anthony, if he was having fun.
He turned around, a bag of candy in his hand and a sucker in his mouth, and nodded before turning back to watch the parade.
Karen Chamberlain, of Reynolds, who came with her children and her mother, Nancy Chamberlain, left satisfied.
“It’s not too long but it’s not too short. When it’s over, you’re not like, ‘Wow, that was it?’”
Homepage
Related Photos
Parade brings light, crowd to city
Event kicks off holiday season
- Local News
-
-
Recycling program a bit too popular
The county’s effort at going green by encouraging recycling in rural areas has been a tremendous success by most accounts, but isn’t without a few glitches. In Wilmington Township, residents often only have a window of a few minutes to get cardboard recyclables in before the bin is full, prompting a discussion among Mercer County Commissioners Wednesday morning.
Continued ... -
District will tap reserve fund
Reynolds school directors plan to fill a $374,567 hole in the 2012-2013 budget with money from the district’s fund balance.
Continued ... -
School board mulls change to sports chaperone policy
In order to comply with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, the Sharpsville Area School Board is looking to adjust a chaperone policy it implemented six months ago.
Continued ...
-
Recycling program a bit too popular
- Sports
-
-
Farrell volleyball falls in D-10 semifinals
The Farrell High boys volleyball team suffered a 2-0 (25-15, 25-12) loss to Saegertown on Thursday night in the District 10 semifinals at Meadville Area High’s “House of Thrills.”
Continued ...
“This was the first year we made it out of the first day (pool play) of the playoffs,” said Steelers’ coach Dan Dragicevic. “I’d like to cite my seniors (Eric Demus, Anthony Perkins, Jaylen Chambers and Lawrence Hughes). -
Locals ready to go for gold at Shippensburg
Now that Mercer County is on the map, it’s incumbent upon the area aggregation to chart a course for the ultimate destination — Seth Grove Stadium’s medals stand — during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships.
Continued ...
Led by West Middlesex High sprinter Clay Allen, many Mercer Countians are seeded at or near the top of their respective events for the annual 2-day marathon at Shippensburg University, which commences 9 a.m. Friday. It will continue beginning 9 a.m. Saturday. -
D-10 Playoffs: Local teams go 6-for-6
ä Grove City 1, Harbor Creek 0 — At Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park, what the Grove City Eagles couldn’t accomplish themselves, the Harbor Creek Huskies unwittingly did for them.
Continued ...
Unable to plate runs themselves, Torin Smith scored the Eagles’ only run when teammate Tyler Devine’s seeming inning-ending pop-up to left field was dropped by Harbor Creek’s Chris Merritt in the bottom of the 7th inning of Tuesday’s tourney opener.
-
Farrell volleyball falls in D-10 semifinals
-
-
VIDEO: 'Ring of fire' solar eclipse
The solar eclipse that took place Sunday evening was an annular eclipse, one in which the moon blocks almost all of the sun. Some of the best viewing was in Asia, as with this video filmed in Japan.
- Photo tribute: 100 years of baseball at Fenway Park
- Son recalls his mother's anguish over those not rescued
- SLIDESHOW: Cruises commemorate Titanic voyage
- Language was a barrier for immigrant on sinking Titanic
-
- Digital Edition Login
- Weather Radar
