'Santa at Sardis' moves annual holiday celebration to Murrysville's newest park

Murrysville’s annual “Night of Lights” holiday celebration is a dream for those in attendance, with carols, hot chocolate and visits with Santa.

But it was a potential nightmare for public safety officials, attracting thousands and taking place near one of the municipality’s busier intersections, Old William Penn Highway and Sardis Road.

“We started talking about relocating it earlier this year,” said recreation director Carly Greene. “There were rumblings the past couple years, and as it grew in popularity and we had more guests, it became more of a serious conversation.”

This year, the municipality will mark the holiday season with “Santa at Sardis,” giving Greene and recreation officials a chance to show off their most recent acquisition — Sardis Park off Saltsburg Road.

“We’re trying to provide a more traditional community event,” Greene said. “People sitting around the fire, more time to talk and visit, just a little slower-paced.”

Murrysville acquired the 10-acre park in late 2014 from the board that managed the once-private space.

“We added safety surfacing and all sorts of things like that, which make it consistent with our other parks,” Greene said. “Public works had to rehabilitate a lot of the structures like the pavilions with new metal roofing. The existing structures that were out there didn’t comply with the regulations we have for playgrounds.”

The existing structure does, however, include parking, something that was at a premium during “Night of Lights” celebrations in Murrysville’s Towne Square area.

“There’s parking at (Sardis) fire hall and at the park,” Greene said. “I hope parking is an issue, though, because that will mean a lot of people came out.”

As in the past, the event will include a gingerbread house contest, vendors, activities for children, hot chocolate, hot dogs from the fire department and roasting sticks for s’mores.

“We’ll have a big bonfire and then smaller campfires scattered throughout the site,” Greene said.

“Santa at Sardis” will be from 2-5 p.m., Dec. 7 at the park on Rocky Hill Lane in Murrysville.

For more, see MurrysvillePArecreation.com, where registration and rules are available for the gingerbread house contest