Ligonier Town-Wide Open House focuses on holiday spirit

With apologies to the snowman that couldn’t make it, it really was beginning to look at lot like Christmas in Ligonier on Sunday.

Despite a scarcity of the white stuff, the quaint Westmoreland County mountain community nestled in the Laurel Highlands managed to radiate holiday spirit during its Town-Wide Christmas Open House.

Visitors flocked to the event that featured the chance to hop a horse drawn sleigh — outfitted with wheels as well as runners, stroll through a town full of welcoming small shops, snack on fresh popped kettle corn and browse storefronts and windows decked out in everything from traditional greenery to a dancing hippopotamus. There was a visit from St. Nick, and the Ligonier Valley Historical Society’s Annual Festival of Lights was on display.

While the open house was a one day event, the 37th Annual Festival of Lights, a fundraiser held in borough building’s community room, is open 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. through Tuesday.

Historical Society Executive Director Theresa Gay Rohall said the event that attracts visitors from far and near features Christmas trees and decorations donated by local businesses and organizations. There is also a silent auction and raffles. This year’s theme, “The Night before Christmas,” teased smiles from children who wandered through the hall.

A local Santa, who said he’s been coming to the event for years, drew shy smiles from Amiya and Analee Frei, aged 2 and 6, who were touring the hall with their grandmother, Cari Frei, of Laughlintown.

“I love him,” Analee said smiling as she led her younger sister back to their grandmother.

Santa said he’s had his hands full. This year’s wish lists included requests ranging from dolls and trains to the 10-year-old boy who insisted he wanted an AK-47.

“I told him no,” Santa said wagging his finger.

Cindy Kuhns, a retired elementary teacher from Ligonier, said she makes a point of attending the festival every year.

“If it weren’t for this, I wouldn’t have a Christmas Tree. I bought my tree when I came here a couple of years ago and found one decorated with angels that the first and second graders had made. I just love angels,” she said, gazing at the display of trees and decorations available this year.

The proceeds of the sale and admission to the festival help underwrite the educational and archaeological work of the historical society.