McCandless hosts Winterfest Dec. 2

Santa and the sisters of “Frozen” fame — Princess Anna and her sister Queen Elsa — will be honored guests at the third annual Winterfest in McCandless on Dec. 2 from 4 to 7 p.m.

“Winterfest comes at a time when families are looking to celebrate the holiday seasons and this is a great one. We have food, games, fireworks, and, yes, Santa,” said council President Michael Tarle.

The township has gotten a lot of positive feedback since Winterfest’s start start, he said.

The community event once again will be held at the public works building located adjacent to town hall on 9955 Grubbs Road.

Winterfest guests can enjoy games, light displays and a fireworks finale.

Food trucks include Rescue Dogs, PGH Crepes, and Cilantro Ajo.

Winterfest, Community Day, and National Night out are probably the largest, most well attended events of the year, he said. Winterfest may be the largest as it does not compete against the church summer fairs, he said.

“I love it because McCandless does not have a true, classic ‘main street’ for residents to gather, and this provides that opportunity to see fellow residents,” Tarle said.

Santa will be breaking from his busy pre-Christmas schedule to visit that evening. And stars of the Disney movie, “Frozen”, Anna and Elsa — courtesy of Enchanted Experiences, a live character entertainment company in Pittsburgh — will take leave from the fantasy kingdom of Arendelle to stop by Winterfest.

People are encouraged to bring a food or toy donation during Winterfest to the Town of McCandless Police Department, also at town hall. Police are conducting a food collection and a toy drive.

“We have been collecting non-perishable, unexpired food items for the North Hills Community Outreach, and we are also now beginning to collect toy donations that will be provided to the kids at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh through the Presents from Police program,” said Chief Ryan Hawk.

People can place new, unwrapped toys in the lower police lobby at 9955 Grubbs Road until Dec. 12.

A collection box will also be located there for the food drive.

The main doors to the vestibule area of the police department will be accessible for community members who wish to donate, Hawk said.

Presents from Police is a toy donation program courtesy of the Aspinwall Police Department for children who can’t be home for the holidays. In addition to Children’s Hospital, Presents for Police also will collect for the Sunrise School in Monroeville and The Children’s Institute in Shadyside, according to Presents from Police.

Monetary donations can be mailed to Presents From Police at 840 Grand Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Monetary donations will also be accepted via Venmo @PresentsFromPolice.

McCandless police will be collecting for NHCO through mid-December. Donation suggestions are posted on the McCandless police Facebook page.

Hawk said some McCandless officers will be at Winterfest for public engagement and as a police presence.

For more information about Winterfest, visit www.townofmccandless.org.