Santa Claus is coming to town — the town of Export, that is.
But instead of spending all his time at the fire hall, this year Kris Kringle will be out and about in the borough, delivering holiday cheer to families from 6-8 p.m. on Friday.
“That was the fire department’s idea,” said Councilwoman Melanie Litz. “They did something similar at Easter, where kids put little baskets at the end of the driveway and the Easter Bunny came around and dropped off eggs for them.”
Typically, Export firefighters host visits with Santa.
“Obviously, that’s not going to happen this year,” Litz said.
However, the idea of Santa going around the borough is hardly new. In fact, it’s a bit of a throwback to the days of J.M. Hall Jr. — known to many as “Junior Hall.”
For five decades, Hall dressed up as Santa Claus, driving around Westmoreland, Allegheny, Indiana and Somerset counties in his 1969 green Cadillac convertible — complete with a stuffed deer standing on the hood — handing out candy and gifts to children.
And Hall’s longtime generosity has a special connection to the event.
“Continuing the tradition of Junior’s love of Christmas and spirit of giving, the Junior Hall Trust funds the stockings that Santa will give out,” Litz said.
