The Stroller, Nov. 25, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley

Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller.

Vandergrift holiday events to ring in the season

An Old Fashioned Christmas holiday celebration will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday on Grant Avenue. There will be food trucks, vendors and entertainment. A parade will begin at 6 p.m. and the Christmas tree lighting will be afterward. Visits with Santa and free photos will be available after the parade in the Market Building.

Small Business Saturday and a Cookie Crawl will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on Grant Avenue. Pick up a cookie box and punch sheet at the VIP Market Building, 134 Grant Ave. and visit participating businesses. Return your completed punch sheet to the Market Building by 4 p.m. to be eligible for a prize. Cost is $5, with proceeds to benefit Vandergrift Meals on Wheels.

Food drive to continue through Dec. 1

State Sen. Lindsay Williams is sponsoring a food drive through Dec. 1 to benefit local families.

Donations of canned vegetables, soup, boxed meals, tuna, peanut butter, jelly, paper products and hygiene necessities can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at her office in Heights Plaza in Harrison or at her Ross Township office on McKnight Road. Proceeds will benefit Feeding the Flock Ministries in Harmar and North Hills Community Outreach.

Parade, tree lighting set in Leechburg

The annual Luminate Leechburg celebration will be Saturday on Market Street.

Registration for the parade will begin at 5 p.m. at the volunteer firehall on Canal Street and the parade will begin at 6 p.m. The parade route will be Market to First Street, to Main Street, Third Street to Market Street. The lighting of the town holiday lighting and Christmas tree will be afterward beside One Idea Books & Gifts, 244 Market St.

Letters to Santa Light Up Night to include sensory-friendly session

The free Letters to Santa Light Up will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in the Roy A. Hunt School gymnasium, 1701 Alcoa Drive, in Arnold.

A sensory friendly and calm environment event for those with special needs will be from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be a basket auction, door prizes, free cookies, hot chocolate and cider; face painting, a DJ, photos with Santa, and an opportunity to write a letter to Santa and meet Santa and the elves. Each child who attends will receive a free toy through Toys for Tots.

Donations will be accepted. Children must be accompanied by an adult and the venue is wheelchair accessible.

Calendar

Apollo

Wednesday: Apollo Hose Company No. 2 will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 325 N. Fourth St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There will be specials and wish jars. Details: 724-478-4831.

Arnold

Today: A free community dinner will be served from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Tomb, 1821 Fifth Ave. Everyone welcome.

Friday: St. Vladimir Church, 1610 Kenneth Ave., is accepting orders for its weekly pierogi sale. Varieties: potato or sauerkraut, $14 per dozen. Pickup: 12:30 to 4 p.m. Fridays in the church social hall. Orders: 724-339-9257, 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Bethel Township

Wednesday: The Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek will host a free “Thankful for Nature” program at 10 a.m. at the center, 142 Kerr Road. There will be a short hike, fall activities, a story time and the opportunity to meet a live turkey. Reservations required. Reservations: armstrongodc.org.

Brackenridge

Wednesday: Al-Anon will meet at 8 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 847 10th Ave. The group offers help and hope for families and friends of alcoholics.

Butler County 

Dec. 3 to Jan. 21: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will offer a free, eight-week online education program for family members and friends of adults living with mental health conditions. Topics will include anxiety, depressive disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, problem solving, treatment and recovery. Sessions will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays on Zoom. Reservations required by 1 p.m. Wednesday. Reservations: namibutler.org.

East Vandergrift 

Dec. 6: Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish is selling tickets for a St. Nicholas Day lottery raffle. Winning numbers will be the first drawn Pennsylvania Daily Pick 3 numbers at 1:30 and 7 p.m. on St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6. Winners will each receive $1,000 and a $100 gift certificate to Naser Foods. Cost: $10, includes two numbers. Tickets: Patricia, 724-568-3409 or Deborah, 724-859-3186, in the parish office or after Sunday Mass in the church vestibule.

Freeport

Wednesdays: The Blessing Closet at Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All items are free, but donations will be accepted. Items available include clothing of all sizes, bedding and window items. Donations of clothing, shoes and boots welcome; must be laundered and free from smoke and pet hair. Wheelchair accessible. Details: 724-295-3095.

Harrison   

Today: Allegheny Valley Hospital Auxiliary will host a Memory Makers memory board sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the hospital cafeteria, 1301 Carlisle St., Natrona Heights. Boards measure 8 x 12 inches and are created from a picture on your phone or a regular photo. Cost: $15. Cash, checks and credit cards accepted. Proceeds will benefit auxiliary projects for the hospital.

Wednesday: The Agape Thrift Shop at Grace United Methodist Church, 1333 Freeport Road, will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Clean clothing in all sizes is needed. No housewares or bedding please. Bring donations on Wednesday or leave them on the front porch. Do not place donations in the blue bins behind the church.

Wednesday: Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank will be open from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at 1913 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights. Food bank participants can receive food allotments twice per month. Those who are not yet registered should come from 3 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The Sparrow’s Nest clothing and home goods ministry will be open from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Details and alternate times: 724-226-0606, ext. 10.

Wednesday: The Becky’s Closet community clothing store at Faith Lutheran Church, 1500 Broadview Blvd., will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church. Cost: adult tops and bottoms, 50 cents; children’s clothing, 25 cents. Please bring small bills and your own bags. Donations welcome during these hours. Everyone welcome.

Dec. 3: Community Library of Allegheny Valley will host a workshop to make giftable hot cocoa ornaments at 6 p.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. Youth in fifth to 12^th grade welcome. Reservations required. Reservations: alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.

Dec. 11: Community Library of Allegheny Valley will offer an adult paint class fundraiser from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. Cost: $10, includes all supplies. BYO snacks and beverages. The subject will be a holiday ornament. Reservations: Alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.

Jan. 17: Tri-County Trout Club is accepting table reservations for its annual sport show and flea market planned at Patterson Hall at Guardian Angels Parish, 800 Montana Ave. Vendors must sell new, used or collectable fishing, hunting, camping or sports items. Cost: $25. Details: 412-298-0964 or tctcnews@gmail.com, leave a message with your name and phone number.

Kiski Township

Today: The diaper pantry at Spring Church Lutheran Church, 3623 Lutheran Church Road, will distribute diapers from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the church. Recipients must register in advance. First-time recipients must provide their own ID, the child’s birth certificate and a current WIC or SNAP card. Registration: 724-478-1528.

Dec. 1: A Red Cross community blood drive will be from 11 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. at Kiski Township Volunteer Firehall, 1037 Route 56 Appointments: 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and search with ZIP code 15613.

Leechburg   

Sunday : Holy Innocents Anglican Church, 366 Third St., is accepting orders for its annual Christmas cookie tray sale. Cost: large trays, $42; small trays, $32. Order deadline: Sunday. Orders: 724-882-2665, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

Dec. 13: A Christmas bingo will be hosted at Leechburg Volunteer Firehall, 268 Canal St. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and food will be served at 4 p.m. Early bird bingo will begin at 4:30 p.m. Cost: $35 in advance; at the door, $40; include 20 games that pay $75, four specials that pay $200 and a light meal. There will be a $300 early bird jackpot, a $1,000 regular jackpot game and 50-50. Details: Melissa, 724-332-9090. Tickets: lvfc150.square.site or at Monday night bingo.

Lower Burrell

Today: A family story time will be at 1 p.m. at Peoples Library, 3052 Wachter St. Details: 724-339-1021.

Through Dec. 31: The works of members of the Allegheny Valley League of Artists will be on display during operating hours at Peoples Library, 3052 Wachter Ave. Details: 724-339-1021.

New Kensington   

Ongoing: Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley is selling 2026 lottery calendar tickets. Tickets are $25 and include one number for each day of the year. Special number requests will be granted if the number is available. Tickets: jlessig@animalprotectors.net or animalprotectors.net.

Today: A family story time will be at 11 a.m. at Peoples Library, 880 Barnes St. Details: 724-339-1021.

Nov. 30: The Myrrh Bearing Women of St. George Orthodox Church are accepting orders for a holiday sweets sale. Prices: baklawa, $14 per 10-piece section; and sambosic, $3 each. Pickup: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10 at the church hall, 1150 Leishman Ave. Quantities are limited. Order deadline: Nov. 30. Orders: 724-335-9988.

Oakmont

Today: Taking Pounds Off Sensibly (TOPS) meets at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1261 Pennsylvania Ave. Private weigh-ins will be from 5:45 to 6:10 p.m. and the meeting will be afterward. The first meeting is free. Details: 412-828-3854 or jmjkwj@gmail.com.

Plum 

Through Dec. 25: Allegheny County Parks Department is sponsoring a holiday food drive for local food banks. Non-perishables can be taken from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays to the Four Seasons Lodge in Boyce Park.

Springdale 

Wednesday: Springdale Free Public Library, 331 School St., will offer a crochet class at 6 p.m. The group meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Bring a hook and some yarn. All ages welcome. Reservations: 724-274-9729.

Dec. 1: The Geraldine Yanni Science program for children in second through sixth grade at Springdale Free Public Library will offer a free program, “Science of Toys” with Mad Science of Pittsburgh at 6 p.m. at the library, 331 School St. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-274-9729.

Tarentum

Today: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St.

Wednesday: The Elks will host bingo at 6:30 p.m. at the lodge, 219 E. Sixth Ave. The kitchen is open to the public from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Menu: elks644.org/attaboys-kitchen. Orders: 724-226-1644 by 8:15 p.m.

Wednesdays and Saturdays: The Alle-Kiski Valley Historical Society, 224 E. Seventh Ave., is open from noon to 3 p.m. and other times by appointment. Details: 724-224-7666.

Washington Township

Wednesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 6 p.m. at Union Presbyterian Church, 656 Route 380.