North Allegheny region to greet the holidays with lights, snowplows and Santa

Whether it’s pancakes or wreath-making, Santas or snowplows, there are a variety of things to do in the North Allegheny region to get ready for the holidays.

Local communities waste no time after the turkey’s done to move on to celebrating the winter season. And there’s something for everyone, from kids to adults and of all abilities.

These community events offer opportunities to get together and make merry.

McCandless

Winterfest and hot chocolate will kick off the holidays in McCandless on Dec. 3.

Santa is coming to town early on Dec. 3 at the McCandless Crossing Town Square off McKnight Road. The event is held from 9 to 11 a.m. with Santa arriving via fire truck at 9:30 a.m. It will feature donuts and hot chocolate. a photographer taking photos with Santa and other surprises along the way.Registration is suggested at www.townofmccandless.org, but tickets will be sold, cash only, on site, according to Abby Lucostic, executive director of the heritage center. Cost is $10 per person and benefits the McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center.

And that afternoon, folks can head out to the second annual Winterfest in McCandless, to be held at 4 p.m. on McCandless Town Hall grounds off Grubbs Road. The 2021 premiere event was so successful, that town council and administration quickly decided it should return.

“Even with the rainy weather last year, the turnout exceeded expectations. The response was fantastic enough to immediately decide that Winterfest had to be a new annual tradition,” said McCandless spokesman John Bojarski.

There will be ice carving by Mastro Ice, a kiddie train to ride on, a bonfire and s’mores, free hot chocolate and light displays. A Boy Scout Derby Track will be set up compliments of Troop 279, Bojarski said.

New this year at Winterfest is a large holiday tree. Food will be available to purchase with the PGH Crepes and the Pittsburgh Pierogi Truck.

There will be a ‘name the snowplow’ contest, where guests can submit names for a town plow. The best name or names will be selected after the event and posted on the township website.

Families can walk the trail next to the Devlin Memorial Park pavilion that leads to the McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage Center for two story times, at 5 and 6 p.m., led by a member of the Northland Public Library.

Winterfest is capped with fireworks at 7 p.m.

All activities will take place in and outside of the public works garage located there, Bojarski said.

Bradford Woods

Light Up Night in the Reserve on Dec. 4 will festively transform the wooded natural area in Bradford Woods into a winter scene, said Vicki Wiegand, a member of the Bradford Woods Conservancy, which is hosting the event.

The event begins at 5 p.m. and will feature cookies, caroling and a bonfire. Lights strung on the trees in the reserve will turn on once the sun has set, said Wiegand, of Bradford Woods. The light up has been happening for almost 15 years, she said.

“It’s just a really nice event,” she said.

The reserve is a 4.5-acre natural property located off Bradford Road in the heart of the borough with entrances off Bradford Road and Lincoln Road. Parking is very limited. Wiegand suggests bringing a flashlight when traversing the paths toward the reserve.

Franklin Park

A holiday dance for people with special needs is being held on Dec. 16 at Blueberry Hill Activity Center on Blaine’s Way in Franklin Park from 6 to 8 p.m.

The event is hosted by the Recreation Alliance of North Pittsburgh, which is made up of local parks and recreation departments. The dance features music, light refreshments and a festive atmosphere.

The cost is $5 per person, and registration is open until Dec. 9, via ranp.recdesk.com, according to Zachary Brower, recreation director at Franklin Park.

While there isn’t an age requirement for the dance, Brower said, most participants are teens or older. The events are geared toward people with special needs, but Brower said siblings and volunteers are welcome.

Each dance is staffed by plenty of volunteers, said Pete Geis, director of the Cranberry Township Parks and Recreation Department.

RANP hosts six to eight dances per year, alternating community venues. The St. Patrick’s dance will be held at the Cranberry community center, Geis said.

Cranberry also is hosting a family fun day on Jan. 14, with details forthcoming. And the RANP also will hold two summer events for those with special needs, Geis said.

The organization paused the dances during the pandemic, but were “inundated” with messages and emails about bringing them back for people with special needs who were looking for something to do.

“A lot of times they don’t get the opportunities that those people who don’t have special needs do,” Geis said. “You see the kids having a blast.”

RANP members include: Avonworth Community Park, Cranberry Township, Economy Borough, Franklin Park Borough, Marshall Township, Ohio Township, Richland Township, Ross Township, and Zelienople Borough.

Volunteers wishing to help at the dances can also register via the RANP link.

Marshall Township

A holiday wreath making workshop is being hosted jointly by Marshall Township Parks and Recreation and Shenot Farms in Wexford on Dec. 7, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Marshall Township Municipal Building.

The cost is $40 for township residents and $45 for nonresidents. A maximum of 15 spots are available, according to township Manager Julie Bastianini.

Also, Marshall is hosting a Brunch with Santa on Dec. 11 at The Camelot Event Center on 260 Northgate Drive. There will be two sessions, at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. The cost is $22. There is a maximum of 100 registrants, according to Bastianini.

Registration for the holiday wreath workshop and Brunch with Santa can be done through the Parks and Recreation tab at www.twp.marshall.pa.us.

The Waters of Wexford is Teaming Up with Marshall Township’s Volunteer Fire Department for an intergenerational holiday party on Dec. 7, from 5-7 p.m. in the parking lot outside The Waters of Wexford senior living community, 210 Fowler Road, in Marshall.

A fire truck will pull up at 5 p.m. with Santa, Mrs. Claus and several elves. They will hand out candy canes and pose for pictures.

There will be holiday music, hot cocoa and cookies. Kids can leave their letters to Santa in a special mailbox. The elves who live and work at the community will make sure that every one gets answered.

Kids will leave the event with a special gift.

“We are giving every child who comes a bag filled with magic reindeer food they can sprinkle on their lawns on Christmas Eve to help Santa find his way to their homes,” said Alaina Riddle, Senior Living Consultant at The Waters of Wexford.

Northland Public Library

The Northland Public Library is also hosting a series of holiday-related events at its location on 300 Cumberland Road. Visit www.northlandlibrary.org for information or to register.