Save the date and plan your visit to downtown Waynesburg from 4 to 8pm on Friday, Dec. 2, for the 14th annual Holiday Open House, sponsored by EQT and presented by Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful. Serving as the kickoff to the Christmas shopping season, the event will feature shopping opportunities, entertainment, seasonal foods, and fun for the whole family.
Returning are many favorite activities like the free wagon rides, Candy Cane Lane, Letters from Santa, and pictures with Santa. There will be plenty of shopping available, both indoors and outdoors. Fire barrels will be lit along Washington and Church streets for holiday shoppers to pause for a visit and warm their hands.
“This special evening has become a holiday tradition for many people in the area, reminiscent of an old-fashioned Christmas, with all the sparkle and magic of small-town America,” says event chair JoAnne Marshall of Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency.
“With the generous sponsorship of EQT, we were able to welcome back Rocky Ridge Acres and the free horse-drawn wagon rides from 5 to 8 p.m. Take a ride through the decorated streets of town in a horse drawn wagon, enjoy the shopping opportunities… there is so much to see and do– and it’s for the whole family,” says Jeanine Henry, president of Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful.
The Holiday Market returns and will be open from 4pm until 8pm. Local crafters, artisans, and vendors will have items for sale along High Street. Vendors include Lippencott Alpacas, Thistlethwaite Vineyards, What’s Smoking’ BBQ, PA Poppers, Royce Concessions, Connellsville Candle Shack, Personality Painting, Toms Baked Goods, and more. Local restaurants and food trucks will be available for those that want to grab a bite to eat.
Beginning at 1:30pm, sections of Washington Street and Church Street will be closed to motorized traffic, and High Street will close at 3:30pm. Vendors will be open at 4pm and activities start at 5pm with Santa & Mrs. Claus on site to welcome children, visitors, and shoppers alike. At 6pm, there will be a tree lighting ceremony for the big Christmas tree that graces the front of Greene County Courthouse. Special thanks to the Waynesburg Moose Lodge for acquiring and decorating the tree with assistance from Waynesburg-Franklin Twp. Vol. Fire Co. and the County of Greene.
Free pictures with Santa will begin after the tree lighting ceremony and are provided by McMillen Photography at the Greene County Courthouse with the 1925 American LaFrance Fire Truck from the Waynesburg-Franklin Twp. Vol. Fire Co. (weather dependent). Treat bags will be available for the first 100 children.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) will be open that evening for their winter coat distribution for area children. New and gently used coats, boots, gloves, hats, and scarves can be donated at the CASA anytime this month. FMI, call 724-802-7347 or email greenecountycasa@gmail.com.
Mark your calendar and watch for the specially decorated store fronts to remind you as well. Downtown merchants will be lighting and decorating their windows to compete for cash prizes, sponsored by Community Bank. The competition will be judged the evening of November 28 with the Community Choice virtually voting on Facebook following the completion of judging through 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 2.
Jeanine adds, “Please respect parking restrictions due to pedestrian safety and utilize the Waynesburg Borough public parking lots. These parking lots will be identified on the event map.”
The day after Holiday Open House would be full of additional holiday celebrations – namely the Christmas Parade through downtown Waynesburg. The parade is returning to High Street this year on Dec. 3 at 2pm.
Volunteers for the event are a vital component of the event and allow the event to be offered to the community for no charge. If you would like to volunteer, please call 724-627-8687.
EQT is the event sponsor of Holiday Open House with additional support from community businesses and vendors. Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful is a Main Street program that operates in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center. Main Street programs emphasize critical time-sensitive stabilization and revitalization of historic downtowns business districts. For more information on and Holiday Open House, call 724-627-8687. Follow Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful on Facebook for the latest updates.