2023 holiday happenings in the A-K Valley

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Allegheny Township

• Freeport Theatre Festival will present “The Nativity — A Christmas Delight” at 7 p.m. Dec. 1, 2 and 3 at the theater located at the Steele Family Farm off Route 356 on White Cloud Road. Donations will be accepted. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-295-1934.

Apollo

• Apollo Area Historical Society will host an antique train and vintage Christmas tree display beginning at 11 a.m. Dec. 2 at the WCTU Building, 317 N. Second St. There will be cookies and an opportunity to visit with Santa starting at 6 p.m.

Arnold

• Cookies and Cocoa with Santa will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 3 in the lot at 1701 Fifth Ave. New, unwrapped toys will be collected for Toys for Tots, and Santa will arrive for visits at 6 p.m.

Avonmore

• Light Up Night will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Dec. 9 along Fifth Street. There will be food, crafts, games, a Secret Santa shop, silent auction and hayrides. Santa and the Grinch will arrive at 6 p.m. Residents are urged to decorate their homes. Sponsored by the Avonmore Community Association.

Cheswick

• Christmas in Cheswick will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 2 in the gazebo in Memorial Park on Pittsburgh Street. Santa and Mrs Claus will be there with free cookies, hot chocolate and music. Details: recboard@cheswick.us.

East Deer

•A community Light Up Night will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 1 in the township Memorial Park. Children can meet Elsa and Anna from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and enjoy activities.

Freeport

• Freeport Renaissance Association will sponsor the annual A Small Town Christmas celebration Dec. 2 in the borough. Activities include a breakfast in the St. Mary Church fellowship hall; Christmas shop, story time and bake sale at Freeport Area Library; pet photos with Santa at NextHome Dynamic; and the tree lighting and pictures with Santa at James E. Swartz Memorial Field. The Christmas Light-Up Parade will begin at 5 p.m. at the boat launch and will proceed on Second Street to Riverside Drive, to Fifth Street to Buffalo Street, to Second Street and end at James E. Swartz Memorial Field. Details: facebook.com/FRA16229.

Harrison

• A Christmas parade will be at 1 p.m. Dec. 2 beginning at Alabama Avenue and Broadview Boulevard and proceed to Montana Avenue by Community Library of Allegheny Valley. Afterward, Santa will be at the library for refreshments.

Jefferson

•Concordia Lutheran Ministries will host its annual live Nativity on Dec. 10 in front of the Haven II building, 148 Marwood Road. Performances last 15 minutes and begin at 4:30, 5:15 and 6 p.m. Hot beverages and refreshments will be served, and gifts will be presented to guests 12 and younger. Bring a camera for photos with Santa. Dress for the weather. Details: 724-352-8268.

Kiski Township

• A drive-thru live Nativity will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at New Beginnings United Methodist Church, 1559 Route 56. Includes light refreshments and a gift for each child. Rain date: Dec. 10.

Kittanning

•Armstrong County Historical Museum and Genealogical Society will host free a Christmas open house from 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 25 and 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 26 at the museum, 300 N. McKean St. The McCain House will be decorated for the holidays, and members of the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Living History Family will be on hand dressed in Civil War period attire. Free parking available on Vine and McKean streets and in the back of the museum via the North Grant Avenue entrance.

Leechburg

• The annual Luminate Leechburg celebration will begin at 3 p.m. Nov. 25 on Market Street. Passports can be picked up at Leechburg Public Library. Visit businesses on the passport to be entered into the prize drawing. Coco Coffeeshop will have photos with Santa from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A parade will begin at 6 p.m. in the fire department parking lot. Lineup will begin at 5:30 p.m. Santa will light the tree and snowflake lights afterward. There will be a train display from noon to 3 p.m. Saturdays Nov. 23 through Dec. 23 at the former Hallmark store in Leechburg Plaza on Third Street.

Lower Burrell

• The Hometown Holiday Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 9 at Burrell High School, Puckety Church Road. A parade will begin at 7 p.m. at Hillcrest Shopping Center on Leechburg Road and proceed to Stewart School for the PTA’s Light the Season event.

New Kensington

• The annual Shop Small, Shop New Ken event will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 25 along Fifth Avenue and in the Parnassus section of the city. Pick up a map for the free crawl at Voodoo Brewing for a chance to win prizes. Businesses will offer specials, free samples and snacks.

Oakmont

• The Hometown Christmas celebration will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Nov. 18 along Allegheny River Boulevard. Performances begin at 4 p.m. on the stage near the clock tower, and a parade will start at 5 p.m. in Verona and make its way into Oakmont.

Saxonburg

• The Holiday Parade will begin at 7 p.m. Nov. 24 on Main Street. Businesses will be open, and there will be a holiday market from 5 to 9 p.m. at South Butler Community Library. There will be free hot chocolate and a decorated tree contest at Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church and free horse and buggy rides.

Springdale

• Springdale Free Public Library and Springdale Borough will host a tropical holiday party for all ages from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 in the gymnasium of the borough building, 325 School St. There will be crafts, snacks and photos with Santa. Dress in your Hawaiian attire or ugly holiday sweater.

Tarentum-Brackenridge

• The annual Christmas parade will begin at 1 p.m. Nov. 18 on Fifth Avenue in Tarentum and proceed to Corbet Street then to First Avenue and continue down to Morgan Street in Brackenridge.

Vandergrift

• The annual tree lighting celebration will be Nov. 24. Santa will make his way around town in a firetruck and will pass out candy beginning at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m., the Kiski Area High School Marching Band will escort Santa from Kiski East Primary School to the intersection of Grant and Farragut avenues for the tree lighting. A community choir will perform from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. From 6:30 to 9 p.m. there will be visits with Santa at the Vandergrift Market, 134 Grant Ave. Vendors and food trucks will be available.