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PITTSTON — Santa Claus made a stop to downtown Pittston Saturday evening as the Downtown Pittston Partnership and the City of Pittston held the annual Toy Truck Parade that stepped off at 5 p.m. — one of the area’s only evening Christmas parades.
This year’s Christmas event had some new wrinkles including a 30-foot artificial Christmas tree sponsored by Community Bank, trolley rides, and the city’s first-ever Christmas Ambassador, Mikey Ash, lighting the tree.
The 14-year-old Exeter resident, who was born with a rare genetic disorder, was excited to take part in the Christmas extravaganza. Ash counted down with Mayor Michael Lombardo and Santa Claus to light the tree.
“It’s another good day in the city. It’s nice to unveil the new tree and to have a special ambassador this year,” Lombardo said. “We learned a lot the last few years, and we’ll learn a little bit more this year to make next year better yet.”
The mayor estimated the crowd to be between 800 to 1,000 people.
The event parade started on Kennedy Boulevard before turning onto Main Street ending at the Pittston Tomato Festival lower lot were Santa Claus was greeted by hundreds of children. Students from Pittston Area’s Key Club assisted Santa during the evening.
Thirty-two cars and trucks participating in the Toy Truck Parade were asked to have vehicles decorated in a Christmas theme.
The unwrapped toys collected would be donated to Angels Like Addison, a toy drive in the memory of Addison Marie Kolbeck who was stillborn in 2018. Addison’s parents are Reba and Stephen “Turk” Kolbeck, owners of Pittston Popcorn.
A tent was set up for children to write Christmas wishes to Santa Claus to be delivered in time for Dec. 25, including 6-year old Grace Rigelwood, a first grade student at Pittston Area.
“I asked Santa for LEGOs, Play-Doh and a scooter,” Rigelwood said, who was excited for the lighting of the tree and to see the parade.
Downtown businesses such as Meals on Wheels offered popcorn, hot chocolate and cookies asking participants to donated cans of fruit.
“This is really nice and festive, a lot of people, and I can’t wait for the tree to light up,” Kimberly Perry, of Pittston Township, said. Perry brought along her two daughters Amylynn, 7, and Alethea, 2, for the first time to the Pittston Christmas holiday event.
After the arrival of Santa Claus, a choir from Holy Rosary School, Dupont, sang Christmas carols and the city provided a trolley ride.
Across the street from the Tomato Festival lot, children were able to decorate a gingerbread cookie in front of the Knights of Columbus building.
Earlier in the day just few blocks away, the First Baptist Church on Water Street offered a Sensitive Santa event for autistic children, children with disabilities and children sensitive to loud noises and large crowds from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sensitive Santa was sponsored S.A.F.E. (Supporting Autism & Families Everywhere) and Brighter Journeys as well as the First Baptist Church.
According to Jeannine Morrissey, children were able to have chocolate milk or hot chocolate, cookies, watch a movie, do crafts or sit on Santa’s lap if they choose.
