Weekend kicks off holiday season

A weekend of holiday-related events are planned in Greencastle.

The annual Greencastle- Antrim Tree Lighting is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 on the square.

The 22nd annual Greencastle Christmas parade will step off at 9:21 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17. It is sponsored by VerStandig Broadcasting radio stations WAYZ 104.7, WFYN 101.5, WPPT 92.1 and WCBG 1380 AM.

The tree lighting ceremony will begin in its traditional manner with the ringing of a bell and proclamation by Frank Mowen, dressed as the Town Crier. Greg Hoover, Greencastle-Antrim School District interim superintendent, and Bill Gour, executive director of the Greencastle- Antrim Chamber of Commerce, will serve as emcees.

This year's tree was donated by Ursula Nisley, of Orchard Cir- cle, Greencastle.

VerStandig Broadcasting runs a registration each year for the Christmas parade grand marshall, which is a child between the ages of 5 and 10. The winner will preside over the parade and afterwards be treated with 10 friends to a pizza party at Tony's New York Pizza, the grand marshall sponsor this year. Also Friday night, the grand marshall will pull the switch to light the tree.

Santa's elves will be handing out commemorative bells, which will be rung prior to the lighting of the tree. Among the other costumed characters will be Two Nuts and a Bolt and Apple Annie. Members of the Heritage Christmas Committee, dressed in Victorian garb, will be distributing Heritage Christmas brochures and Shoppes of Greencastle booklets.

Rob and Niki Kauffman will lead those assembled on the square in the singing of Christmas carols.

Those in attendance are encouraged to view the Lights of Love scrolls, which will be displayed in The First National Bank of Greencastle window.

Free hot chocolate and cookies will be served by the Greencastle Exchange Club and free popcorn and balloons will be given away by real estate agents from Jack Gaughen Realtor ERA. A live broadcast by VerStandig Broadcasting will be occurring during the evening's festivities.

For more information on the Tree Lighting Ceremony or Heritage Christmas, contact the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce at 717-597-4610, or by e-mail at bill@greencastlepachamber.

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On Saturday the parade route will run from the Besore Memorial Library down East Baltimore Street to the square and proceeding south on Carlisle Street and ending at the American Legion.

Spectators will be marching bands, church groups, classic cars, dance groups, emergency service vehicles and floats.

Members of the Lions Club will be on the square, giving away treat bags to children following the parade. Lionesses will be serving hot chocolate and members of Greencastle Rotary will be serving hot chocolate and cookies.