Light-Up Kittanning Continues Holiday Traditions
With a sparkle of glitter, Santa Claus illuminates downtown Kittanning on Friday night at the conclusion of the annual parade along Market Street.
by Jonathan Weaver
Traffic cones and construction tape surrounded Kittanning last week, but Friday night, the center of Armstrong County was also filled with holiday cheer during the annual Light-Up Kittanning Night.
Sponsored through Downtown Kittanning, Inc. businesses and non-profits, the evening began with Santa riding into town atop the Kittanning Hose Company #1 aerial truck.
Danni Rearigh, 4, of Ford City, and Lydia Schrecengost, 5, of Kittanning were two of the first kids to greet Santa after he came off the truck.
Schrecengost’s grandmother, Pam Ridinger, said it was a special moment for her granddaughter – who asked Santa for a Build-a-Bear.
“She has been here the past few years, but she doesn’t remember it from when she was little so every year it’s like doing it all over again. She has that excitement,” Ridinger said.
First in line to see Santa in Citizen’s Bank was the trio of Terry Miller, 10, Dominic Beri, 9 and Bobbi Daniel, 6. The trio was standing in line with their parents about 45 minutes before the parade began.
Each asked Santa for an iPhone, tablet and an iPod under the Christmas tree – much different than Dominic’s mother, Trisha, would ask for.
“I can remember when I used to ask for a bike and roller skates,” Trisha said.
Now, she asks for her family to be “healthy, happy and safe” in 2016.
On the other end of the line was Sally Baker, 11-year-old Taylor and two-year-old Chase and their grandmother, Jayne Baker– all of Ford City. It was the family’s first Light-Up Kittanning in 17 years.
In addition to getting their photos with Santa, reindeer or animals dressed up for the holidays (including a pair of Nigerian Dwarf Goats), children also got to get their photos with ‘Queen Elsa’ – one of the main characters in the Disney animated blockbuster “Frozen.”
Melissa Newby, a personal banker at Citizen’s Bank in Kittanning, bought an Elsa costume online to walk in the parade Kittanning Branch Manager Matt Whitmire, of Rural Valley.
New to Light-Up Kittanning this year was the performing (and fire-eating) skills of Brady “Klass Klowne” Wegener, of Brackenridge, in the Radioactive Events Center.
“I only got my picture taken about five-or-six times (but) she got it about 500 times,” Whitmire said. “I knew she’d be busy all night, but she didn’t think she would be.”
Another pair of employees was dressed as elves with Santa at the bank while Personal Banker Brenda Hohn dressed up as “Mrs. Claus.”
Newby and Whitmire hope to dress up again next year.
At NexTier Bank Plaza, 20 hungry contestants participated in the eighth-annual Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest – where they competed for $100.
Armstrong High 10th Grader Joey Crissman admitted it was a challenge.
“A little bit – finding time to chew was a real mouth workout,” Crissman said. “I starved myself before this.”
All pies were donated by Kings Restaurant in East Franklin Township.
Lisa Stolitza and Lenape Elementary 6th Grade Math and Science Teacher (as well as the “Voice of the River Hawks”) Gregg Hedglin narrated the event.
A few blocks down Market Street at the Radioactive Events Center, Brady “Klass Klowne” Wegener was juggling and eating fire to a standing-room only crowd.
The professional performer and acrobat from Brackenridge travels across the country five months out of the year performing at Renaissance festivals.
“I’ve been performing since I was 13, and I started at Idlewild Park. My dad worked there for his whole life, my grandma still (works the) switchboard there, and, at 13, I learned how to juggle from professional jugglers Mike Spisak (of the Speez-Acts and the Kennywood Players),” Wegener said. “From there, they put me onstage and I fell in love with performing.
“I started at birthday parties and church events and built my way up to where I am now – which I feel is moving toward the top.”
Next month, Wegener, 21, performs in Baltimore and Philadelphia.
During the winter weather, Wegener works as a general laborer. He hopes to one day perform on cruise ships.
Co-Founder Mark Gibson has been friends with Wegener for more than 10 years.
“He’s always traveling, so we’re lucky to get him,” Mark said. “Kids like him.”
Much like Sorcerer Mickey, Katie Stiller lights off fireworks over the Allegheny River to end the evening’s festivities on a bright note.
That included Rob Bhrman’s seven-year-old daughter, Elyse, and four-year-old son, Zach.
“It’s the first time they’ve seen something like that. It was pretty cool,” Bhrman said.
NexTier Bank won the annual window decorating contest with their caution-taped Christmas trees and Santa decked out in a safety vest.
Creative Director Natalie Cotherman and Regional Manager/Security Officer/Facilities Manger Teri Thomas – both of Kittanning – started planning the design at the beginning of November. It was NexTier’s first time winning the window decorating contest.
“It was a collaborative effort. Teri mentioned the idea of doing something with a bulldozer or a dump truck, and we made it work,” Cotherman said.
Cotherman made the traffic signal and bulldozer out of cardboard
Closest to the now-repaired sinkhole site on South Water Street continued a three-year tradition by First Baptist Church.
The live nativity was set-up at the church for about 40 years before the past few Light-Up Kittanning nights from 6-8PM, said Parishioner Terri Smith, of Kittanning.
Donna Confer, of Widnoon, has attended the Kittanning church for more than 25 years and volunteered for the live nativity more often-than-not, either as Mary, a shepherd or as an angel.
“This is the reason for the season, so we want to make sure we represent that,” the women said. “We want to make sure all the kids know and the adults, and this year, we had so many people explain to their little kids more than any year we’ve ever had it what the nativity was – which is great.”
Andrew Laddusaw, a DKI member for three-and-a-half-years through his insurance office, and two Armstrong Junior-Senior High School students sold out of 10 boxes worth of light-up items, including tiaras and swords, by 7:45PM. He was glad to see Friday’s turnout.
“I think the whole community of Kittanning was happy we got to do this tonight – nice weather and a nice turnout,” Laddusaw said. “It went way better than I think we could’ve hoped or imagined.”
Online records indicate a Christmas parade in November has driven through Kittanning at least since 1970.
NexTier Bank Creative Director Natalie Cotherman and Regional Manager/Security Officer/Facilities Manger Teri Thomas show off their winning decorated windows.
Local News | jweaver November 23, 2015
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