A family prepares to take a photo with Santa Claus during Chicora's Light Up Night on Sunday.

Santa traded in his sleigh and reindeers this year for Chicora's fire engine.

For the fifth year in a row, the borough of Chicora marked the beginning of the holiday season by covering West Slippery Rock Street with decorated Christmas trees.

The event is held every year and is hosted by the Chicora Borough, the local fire department and the Chicora Moose and Family Center.

“We've been to (this event) every year since it started,” said Krista Ritzert of Chicora as she stood by a line of families waiting to speak with the featured Santa. “This year's the warmest but we'd be here anyway. We just love the family-friendly event. Seeing everyone is the best and just getting into the holiday spirit.”

Ritzert was there with her three children, the oldest of whom was preparing for a performance later in the evening with the Karns City Area High School varsity cheerleading team.

With the sun still up, locals participated in the Candy Cane Crawl and Pooch Parade, walking up and down the street spreading merriment.

Jim Lewis, a pastor with the Chicora United Methodist, handed out mini-cupcakes and a hot meal, to the streams of people that passed by him. Behind, Lewis put up a big sign that said “Jesus Christ was born today.”

“We mingle with folks and try to remind everyone what the reason is for the season,” Lewis said. “It's a good time for a meet and greet with everybody.”

Later in the day, with luminous decorations filling in for the waning sun, Christmas decorations lit up on small Christmas trees that lines the street. People had the choice of voting for their favorite one and at the end of the night one was selected for a cash award.

Read the full story in Monday's Butler Eagle.