Dressed in a green Grinch sweatshirt and leggings spattered with red poinsettias, Maria Hoscheid was the image of Christmas at the 16th annual Tarentum-Brackenridge holiday parade Saturday.
“We never miss this,” said Hoscheid, who lived in Tarentum for 28 years before recently moving to East Deer’s Creighton neighborhood.
“It’s not the Christmas season until we come to the parade.”
The event kicked off at 1 p.m. under blue skies and temperatures that hovered near 50 degrees.
The streets were lined with onlookers — and there was plenty to see.
The parade boasted an array of fire engines, Shriners in miniature cars, inflatable characters, youth sports teams, Scouts, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, the Highlands High School marching band and, of course, Santa.
“Is it the real Santa?” asked 4-year-old Nathanyal Selinger, of Natrona Heights, Harrison.
“He’s my favorite part of the parade. Plus the candy.”
The parade route stretched along Fifth Avenue in Tarentum, marched down the Corbet Street business district and turned left onto First Avenue into Brackenridge before ending on Morgan Street.
Hundreds of people were waiting at all points.
Volunteers work for months behind the scenes to pull off a perfect event, according to Cindy Kish of the Brackenridge recreation committee.
“When we see everyone enjoying the holiday season, all of our work and effort is worthwhile,” she said.
Santa will make another appearance in the area Dec. 4, when the Big Guy and his elves tour Harrison, Brackenridge and Tarentum.
The Santa Neighborhood Parade from 3 to 5 p.m. will feature fire trucks and a DJ playing music in each town.
