Celebrate the Holidays in Downingtown
on Saturday, December 10, 2011
PARADE GRAND MARSHALS
For the second year in a row, we will be honoring our military families. We went to our local elementary schools this year – Beaver Creek and East Ward – to see if there were any parents of these students who were actively deployed or who are just recently home from active duty.
Joining us will be SSG Tim Bermiss from the PA Army National Guard and Delaware Air National Guard Staff Sergeant Michael McBride. SSG Bermiss will be accompanied by his wife Melanie and children Abigail and Trevor. They are an East Ward Elementary School family. Tim was expected to arrive home in late November. He was stationed at Balad Airbase in Iraq for one year from 2007-2008 and is currently returning from his second year of deployment stationed at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan as a convoy escort. Delaware Air National Guard Staff Sergeant Michael McBride served with 142 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Al Udeid Air Force Base in Qatar. He is accompanied down the parade route by his daughter, Morgan and his son, Conner.
DOWNINGTOWN BUSINESSES ADORNED WITH GREENS
Greens and red bows adorn the fronts of many businesses along Lancaster Avenue – a sure sign that Christmas is just around the corner. A special thank you to Vernon May and Family Property Maintenance for providing the greens.
ENTERTAINMENT ALONG LANCASTER AVENUE
Each year there are music and dance groups along the parade route to entertain you while you wait. This year we have:
Touch of Class Dance Studio performing in the street at Wallace and Lancaster Avenues starting at 3:00 pm.
Downingtown East High School Vocal Ensemble will be strolling and singing along Lancaster Avenue starting at 2:45 pm.
Octorara Snowflake Symphony will play in the pocket park next to Downingtown Country Gifts. This group is a band made up of 36 six graders from the Octorara School District under the direction of Andrew Reynolds. They will start playing at 2:45 pm.
And don’t forget –
Brother Bob and Friends at the Minquas Fire House from 1:00 – 2:30 pm
McNemar Brothers – An improvisational jazz band playing from 1:30 – 3:00 pm in the Four J’s Mini Mall.
HOSPITALITY SUITE
The Downingtown Christmas Committee provides a hospitality room each year from 1:00 – 3:00 pm at the Minquas Fire House at 202 E. Lancaster Avenue. Bring the kids in out of the cold for some free refreshments of cookies, hot chocolate and more, while they listen to music provided by Brother Bob and Friends from 1 - 2:30 pm. Santa will be there from 1:30 – 2:30 pm to greet the little ones and hear what they want for Christmas. Always a great time – don’t miss it!
THE WINTER WONDERLAND sponsored by The Bridge Community Church will be providing more fun for everyone at 123 E. Lancaster Avenue in the Four J’s Mini Mall. A free Family Fun Fair, that will provide games, a North Pole Post Office, Holiday Family Photo Spot, Coffee & Hot Chocolate, Snacks and a showing of “The Polar Express.” The event will begin at 11:30 am (movie start time) and conclude at 3:00 pm. For more information visit www.bridgecommunity.tv.
In the same store front from 1:30 – 3:00 pm, the McNemar Brothers, an improvisational jazz ensemble will be playing for your enjoyment.
FOOD COLLECTION FOR THE LORD’S PANTRY OF DOWNINGTOWN AT THE
FOUR J’S MINI MALL ON PARADE DAY
The Lord’s Pantry serves the emergency food needs of the eligible, low-income families in need in the Downingtown, Exton and Lionville area. What better Christmas gift then to put food on the table of those in need all year long but especially at the holidays. Downingtown is called the “Good Neighbor Community” for a reason. Let’s be a good neighbor and drop off your non-perishable food donations in the front room at the Four J’s Mini Mall between 1:30 – 3:00 pm when you come to town for the day’s celebration. Check their website at www.lordspantryofdowningtown.org for other programs and ways you can help. Bring some holiday cheer to those less fortunate.
STOP AND VISIT OUR LOCAL MERCHANTS
30 East Salon will be open with many specials
Amani’s Restaurant will open at 3:00 pm to sell gift certificates. Makes a great gift!
Chelsey’s Tavern invites you in for eggnog and cookies.
Creekside Antiques Stop in for hot cider and Christmas cookies and some Creekside Hospitality!
And don’t forget to pick up that special Christmas gift.
Downingtown Country Gifts will be open from 10 am – 7 pm. Their Market Cart will be in the courtyard next to the store and they will be offering 10% off all merchandise on parade day.
Foster Boys will be running a concession with sandwiches outside their store.
Georgio’s – Daily dinner specials
Lowe Riders will have free hot chocolate at the “Old Guinta’s Soda Bar” and $10.00 off all season ski and snowboard rentals reserved on parade day.
Margo’s Ice Cream will be offering 20% off everything. It’s their last day for this season!
Pinball Gallery will have free hot chocolate inside to escape the cold and all games will be 25 cents a play plus information on owning your own pinball machine or having a private party
Station Tap Room - Daily specials offered.
THIS YEAR’S PARADE HAS LOTS OF MUSIC!
DOWNINGTOWN BLUE & GOLD MARCHING BAND has always marched in our Christmas Parade. They are one of only 16 bands from around the world chosen to participate in the 122nd Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California on New Year’s Day 2011.
RUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND FROM WEST CHESTER will be joining us for the first time this year. Rustin Marching Band won their first State Championship in 2006 and again in 2009. The band will soon be headed to Florida to march in the 2011 Florida Citrus Bowl Parade in Orlando, Florida on December 31. Good Luck!
CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY MARCHING BAND is back again. The Cheyney University Band program was re-established in 2005. Made up of music majors and non-music majors they certainly put on a great performance. Welcome back!
CHESTER COUNTY EMERALD SOCIETY PIPE BAND will be joining us for a fifth year. During St. Patrick's Week 2010, the band traveled to Killorglin, County Kerry, Ireland and were proud to have led the 2010 Killorglin St. Patrick's Day Parade. They were the first band to lead the parade since the Killorglin Pipe Band in the 1950s.
UPTOWN STRING BAND is returning for a sixth year. The Uptown String Band has been parading in the annual Philadelphia New Year’s Day Mummers Parade since 1938. Uptown first recorded the world renowned "I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover," selling over 1,000,000 copies worldwide. They are under the direction of Captain Ryan Radcliffe. Their 2011 theme was “Shake, Rattle and Casserole”.
BISHOP SHANAHAN BAND is back again this year but this time they are marching instead of performing on top of a float. Great addition to the parade!
PARADE ROUTE- The parade will travel along Lancaster Avenue/Business Route 30 going west to east. It will start at Gable Avenue in the west and travel east to Whiteland Avenue/Route 113. Part of Lancaster Avenue at the beginning of the parade route will be used to line up the parade, so your best viewing of the parade will begin around Aston Avenue. By then the parade should be marching right along.
