ZELIENOPLE — Alan Davidson loves getting into the spirit of the holidays by going to Zelienople's annual Christmas parade.

“Who can't love the parade?” Davidson of Zelienople said.

The parade on Saturday kicked off with the Seneca Valley Raider Band, followed by fire trucks from Zelienople and Harmony.

It finished with the triumphant appearance of Santa Claus, who was riding on a sleigh pulled by miniature horses.

After the parade, Santa took his position in his house at the intersection of Main Street and Grandview Avenue to hear from children.

Davidson said that Santa may be his favorite part of the parade, but his daughter, Alyssa Davidson, said she likes to see the band. She is a Seneca Valley alum who used to be in the band.

“I'm biased,” she said.

Dave and Janeen Schoenly of Cranberry Township have a son in the marching band, which is what caused them to come to the parade.

“We came out to see the band,” Dave Schoenly said.

They also like the small-town feeling of the parade and of Zelienople.

“Just a little small town,” he said.

This was the second year in a row that the couple has come to the parade. Dave Schoenly said they generally like parades, but noted that it is somewhat difficult to hold a parade where they live.

“There's no place to have them,” he said.

Alana Hollerman of New Castle used to live in Zelienople, and sometimes comes back for the parade. She came with her sister, Alyssa Hollerman of New Castle.

“Everyone pretty much gets into the spirit of the holiday,” she said.

Alyssa Hollerman brought her 3-year-old daughter, Isabella, who had a definite favorite part of the parade.

“Santa,” she exclaimed.

Angela Hall and Jeff Platt of Zelienople came to the parade for the first time at the request of their 2-year-old son, Graham.

“He wanted to come down and see Santa,” Hall said.

They even got to walk to the parade.

“We're only a couple blocks away,” Platt said.

Gaye Lynn Wilson of Frederick, Md., came to Zelienople for Thanksgiving.

“I don't go home until after the parade,” Wilson said, noting that she particularly likes the Seneca Valley band.

Her sister, Valerie Wilson of Zelienople, likes the atmosphere of the parade.

“Seeing the children and crowds. Love Zelienople,” she said.