Bethel Park lights up the holiday season
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Layton Jones, 5, of Bethel Park and Santa discuss his Christmas list.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Hadley Linz, 2, tugs on an ornament as the Christmas tree in Bethel Park is illuminated during festivities held at the community center on Nov. 29.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Vanessa Wojton, 3, of Bethel Park creates a reindeer craft to hang on her Christmas tree. She was many of the children and their families attending the annual Bethel Park Tree Lighting festivities held Nov. 29 at the community center.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Jill Hayes holds a bag for her daughter, Mary Jane, to fill with food for Santa’s reindeer during the Bethel Park Lighting event held Nov. 29 at the community center.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Members of the Bethel Park High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Chad Thompson, entertained guests with holiday favorites, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The Independence Middle School singers, directed by Trish Quinque, also performed.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Jake and Ben Quinn, 7 and 5, of Bethel Park fill bags with food for Santa’s reindeer.
Bethel Park ushered in the holiday season with its annual Christmas Tree Lighting celebration held Nov. 29 at the community center.
Children counted down the numbers until Mayor Jack Allen magically illuminated the tree trimmed in garland and ornaments.
To the strains of the Bethel Park High School Jazz Ensemble, the crowd greeted Santa Claus.
Afterward, the jolly old elf, accompanied by the Independence Middle School vocalists, led the audience in a sing-a-long featuring many holiday favorites.
In addition to sitting on Santa’s lap and telling him what they wanted for Christmas, children joined in filling food bags for his reindeer and crafted ornaments for their own trees at home.