'A great celebration of the community': Tarentum Brackenridge Christmas parade opens the season

The Rev. John Bailey summed up the 20th annual Tarentum Brackenridge Christmas parade that kick-started the holiday season Saturday: “It was just a great celebration of the community.”

Leading off the parade was the Highlands High School Varsity Marching Band. Behind the trumpets, tubas and drums was a long line of emergency response vehicles, including fire trucks and ambulances from Alle-Kiski Valley fire companies as well as a large militarized armored car.

Local businesses and restaurants normally closed on a Saturday were open for business and even played Christmas music on speakers positioned near the streets while onlookers gathered on both sides.

They sipped on free hot chocolate handed by members of Christ Our Hope Anglican Church, located in Harrison, to help battle the afternoon’s chilled air. It was sunny, with the temperature in the high 40s, but the wind was brisk.

“We love seeing all the moms and dads and their kids having fun,” said Bailey, church pastor who was helping to hand out the hot chocolate. “It was a beautiful parade.”

The parade started on Fifth Avenue in Tarentum and proceeded to Corbet Street, then turned onto First Avenue and continued down to Morgan Street in Brackenridge.

Tarentum Councilwoman Carrie Fox, who planned the festivities, said she she did know how many units participated in the parade, because any group is welcome and doesn’t need to RSVP.

Among the parade attractions were about a dozen antique cars and about another dozen decked out Christmas Jeeps from the Ohana Jeep Brigade in Lower Burrell.

Then there were The Rhode Rigs miniature trucks, a fleet of puppies from Paws Across Pittsburgh Animal Rescue and several themed floats such as the Three Rivers Hillbilly Clan No. 53 outhouse scene and the Pioneer Hose Ladies Auxiliary toy workshop.

All got waves and cheers from spectators.

The parade lasted for a little over a half-hour before Santa Claus in his sleigh closed it out by reminding everyone to have a very Merry Christmas.