Zelienople kicks off Christmas season
ZELIENOPLE — Holiday traditions were changed up Thursday in Zelienople as the annual Christmas parade joined Miracle on Main Street.
The parade — which traditionally has taken place on a Saturday — started at 5:30 and ended by 6 p.m.
While the night might not have followed the practices of yesteryear, it brought its own charm and holiday glow.
“I'm always open to trying new things,” said Jennifer Kaufman. “You have to try new things to see what's going to work.”
Kaufman typically watches the parade as a bystander. But this year, she represented English Evangelical Lutheran Church by serving visitors free hot apple cider.
The church stays involved during the Christmas season by participating in several community events, Kaufman said.
“We really enjoy getting involved with the community,” she said. “We just want to raise awareness of our church.”
Kaufman wasn't the only person with that idea Thursday night. Representatives of St. Paul's Lutheran Church also wanted to be part of the festivities.
“This is a nice meet-and-greet,” said Barb Bulger, who joined her husband, John, in distributing hot chocolate and coffee.
The Bulgers' pastor, Tim Dawes, got the church involved with Miracle on Main and the Christmas parade for the first time.
Dawes, who joined the congregation earlier this year, never had been to a Zelienople Christmas parade before Thursday. Having the opportunity to be part of the festivities was important to him. Dawes believes in bringing the church to the people.
“We're going to be an inviting church,” Dawes said. “We're still here.”
“New pastor, new ideas,” John Bulger said.
Lynn and Rick Meyers are part of St. Peter's Reformed Church. The couple usually walks in the Christmas parade for Salvation Army.But — like the parade itself — this year brought a first for them. They volunteered to ring bells for the Salvation Army Thursday night. From their spot along Main Street, their ringing brought many donations.“I think people are in a cheerful mood,” Lynn said. “A lot of people have stopped.”“People are generous,” Rick said.“And everything that we collect is more than what we had,” Lynn added.The parade lineup was stocked with classic participants, like Santa and Mrs. Claus, local marching bands and fire engines.It also included several unique features, like stilt walkers, horse-drawn carriages and a float of the Island of Misfit Toys from the “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” holiday cartoon.
“I love it. The kids love it,” said Deidra Wegner, who attended the parade this year with her 10-year-old son, Brennan. “Last year, it was snowing. It was beautiful.”The new layout of the event didn't stop Wegner from coming.It also didn't stop Harry and Faithann Karatassos, who came to watch their sons preform in the Seneca Valley Marching Band.“It was fun,” Faithann said.“Santa at the end is always great,” Harry said.The Karatassoses both thought the night went well, from the timing of the parade to the temperature. Like Wegner, the change in tradition didn't keep them from enjoy the evening.Zelienople has many Christmas traditions.And those traditions have one important mission, according to Dawes.“(It's) to build community,” Dawes said. “To get people to know one another.”
