Celebrating the holidays 鈥� in reverse
Corner Cupboard Food Bank won third place in the Greene County Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 Revere Christmas Parade float contest at the county fairgrounds on Dec. 4. (Photo by Steve Barrett)
Early Learning Resource Center won first place in the Greene County Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 Revere Christmas Parade float contest at the county fairgrounds on Dec. 4. (Photo by Steve Barrett)
The Waynesburg Central High School band was one of several school bands that entertained those who attended the Greene County Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 Revere Christmas Parade float contest at the county fairgrounds on Dec. 4. (Photo by Steve Barrett)
Miss Rain Day Emily Bennett joins Santa and Mrs. Claus in waving to those attending the Greene County Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 Revere Christmas Parade float contest at the county fairgrounds on Dec. 4. (Photo by Steve Barrett)
Girl Scouts Brownie Troop 88012 won 鈥淏est Spirit鈥� during the float contest held as part of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 Reverse Christmas Parade on Dec. 4. (Photo by Steve Barrett)
Lippencott Alpacas and its Dish Cloths for Charity initiative won 鈥淢ost Original鈥� during the float contest held as part of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 Reverse Christmas Parade on Dec. 4. (Photo by Steve Barrett)
Early Learning Resource Center won first place in the float contest held during the Greene County Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 Reverse Christmas Parade at the county fairgrounds on Dec. 4. (Photo by Steve Barrett)
George 鈥淏ly鈥� Blystone is all smiles as he greets and welcomes participants attending the Greene County Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 Reverse Christmas Parade on Dec. 4 at the county fairgrounds. Blystone, who was selected as the chamber鈥檚 2021 Distinguished Service award recipient, and Miss Rain Day Emily Bennett served as co-Grand Marshalls for the event. (Photo by Steve Barrett)
Hundreds of residents visited the Greene County Fairgrounds last weekend to enjoy a parade without even having to leave their vehicles.
For the second year in a row, Greene County Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 annual Christmas parade was celebrated as a 鈥渞everse鈥� parade. Rather than lining up along a street to watch floats move by participants drove through a planned route and passed by stationary parade entries.
Chamber Executive Director Melody Longstreth said roughly 250 vehicles and 800 revelers traveled through the Dec. 4 reverse parade. For the second time in the parade鈥檚 83-year history, nearly 500 holiday treat bags containing books, candy and small gifts 鈥� which were donated by local organizations, businesses and individuals 鈥� were handed out to children. A small amount of leftover bags were donated to Corner Cupboard Food Bank to be distributed with the agency鈥檚 holiday food boxes.
鈥淲e were thrilled to see how many people traveled through the parade and how many happy faces we saw in those vehicles,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hile the parade looked different, as a community we were celebrating and the children enjoyed the event.鈥�
Paradegoers traveled through the fairgrounds鈥� arena barn and midway before ending the route through Building No. 8, which was designated as 鈥淪anta鈥檚 Shop.鈥� Nearly 50 different stationary displays could be viewed by spectators.
The 2020 Christmas Parade was the first not held on the traditional route of High Street in Waynesburg. Since its inception in 1938, chamber had organized the parade to run along that route.
Longstreth said last year鈥檚 event was changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淲hen the pandemic hit and Gov. Wolf closed all state highways to any event closures, the parade was not permitted to be held on High Street,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he chamber, given the long-standing history of presenting the parade, decided that so much had been taken from the children of the county that something had to be created so that they could see Santa.鈥�
Longstreth said when the chamber began planning the 2021 event earlier this year, the organization continued to face uncertainties.
鈥淥n Sept. 1, the state had not yet lifted its ban on parades and festivals on state roadways. Traditionally, the parade planning begins on that date but things were placed on hold until the middle of September when the state finally lifted the ban,鈥� she said.
鈥淒uring the pandemic, the state drafted a new road closure form, going from a single page to seven pages. Included were increased insurance requirements that had never been necessary in the past which came at a cost.鈥�
On Sept. 30, the chamber board met to discuss the location for the 2021 parade. After weeks of discussion, research and investigation, the decision was made to remain at the fairgrounds for one more year.
鈥淭hat decision was reached due to several factors, one being the need for a new costly insurance policy, but the final straw was that the permit to close High Street could be revoked at any time by the state prior to the event,鈥� she explained. 鈥淏ased on the timeline and items that needed to be completed prior to the event, it was the best decision to continue on the fairgrounds for one more year.鈥�
Longstreth said planning the parade on High Street instead of the fairgrounds provided logistical difficulties.
鈥淧eople do not understand all the work that goes into the High Street parade from a logistical perspective when you are dealing with 90 to 100 units and two sets of announcers, 40 volunteers, a film crew, state and borough police traffic control and multiple parking lots and streets that needs to be closed to traffic to allow units to line up,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, to do all of that with the possibility of the state revoking our permit if COVID numbers increased was a risk that was decided was too much this year.鈥�
Longstreth said the chamber 鈥� a private nonprofit business organization representing 360 local member businesses and business individuals 鈥� receives no tax dollars and is not a part of any local, state or federal government. The annual Christmas Parade, she added, is one of two community service projects organized by the chamber.
鈥淔unding for the chambers program of work consists of membership dues collected and its own fundraising efforts,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ost of the projects and programs are fully sponsored by private businesses and corporations.鈥�
In addition to the children鈥檚 books donated by Early Learning Resource Center, free hot chocolate and snacks were hand delivered to vehicles courtesy of the county鈥檚 Children and Youth Services program.
The parade, which was underwritten by FirstEnergy Foundation, also received assistance from Waynesburg Rotary Club, the county sheriff鈥檚 office and volunteers from county school districts鈥� National Honor Societies. Crosspoint Church entertained paradegoers with live music, while Waynesburg, West Greene and Mapletown High School bands performed holiday songs.
The parade鈥檚 co-Grand Marshals were George 鈥淏ly鈥� Blystone and 2021 Miss Rain Day Emily Bennett. Blystone was the recipient of the chamber鈥檚 2021 Distinguished Service Award.
As people drove through, they were able to make donations to Corner Cupboard Food Bank and Salvation Army, and the Christian Motorcycle Association were also there collecting toys for the Toys for Tots program.
WANB Radio presented a special broadcast throughout the event, playing classic Christmas songs and also airing classic local commercials from years past.
Toys for the gift bags were donated by WHS-Greene, and First Federal Savings and Loan of Greene County donated two large pre-lit Christmas trees that were awarded to winners in a random drawing, as were Christmas decorations made by Jefferson-Morgan student Zoey Stull and a basket made by Kristy Vliet, owner of 5 Kidz Kandy, which contained items from a variety of local businesses, including Essentially Kind, Southern Comfy Boutique, Fashion Shop, Mickey鈥檚 Men鈥檚 Store and 5 Kidz Kandy.
Students from Waynesburg University鈥檚 communications department, under the direction of Richard Krause, participated in video and photography work throughout the parade. Longstreth said videos and photos will be posted on the Greene County PA Chamber Facebook page.
Stull, she was one of four area students representing their respective school districts as 2021 Miss Merry Christmas. Joining her were Waynesburg鈥檚 Brenna Benke, Mapletown鈥檚 Paytyn Neighbors and West Greene鈥檚 Desirae Lemmon.
The parade once again featured a contest for best floats. Winning first place was Early Learning Resource Center, which also won the People鈥檚 Choice award, followed by Special Events Commission 鈥� Rain Day Festival (second place) and Corner Cupboard Food Bank (third place). Girl Scouts Brownie Troop 88012 won 鈥淏est Spirit,鈥� Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA won 鈥淏est Design鈥� and Lippencott Alpacas won 鈥淢ost Original.鈥�