FRANKLIN, PA. Light Up Night kicks off holidays with food, shows

A dance troupe from Argentina will highlight the festivities, along with Santa.
By LAURI GALENTINE
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
FRANKLIN, Pa. -- This year's annual Light Up Night in Franklin is designed along the lines of the town's motto, "A small town with big festivals. & quot;
One of the five "big festivals" held in the city each year, Light Up Night & quot;has a lot of spirit to it," said the city's Program Coordinator, Ronnie Beith.
"It's really a beautiful evening," she said.
Light Up Night 2002 will begin when the Christmas Tree Extravaganza opens at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Barrow Civic Theater on Liberty Street, Franklin's main street, Beith said.
Along with the display of decorated Christmas trees, there will be a Miniature Railroad Show and a Teddy Bear Show.
Chili Fest
The theater is also the site of the Chili Fest, where local volunteers will serve homemade chili, soup, hot chocolate and coffee.
Beith said a group of local children who sing and dance, known as the Kayton Kids, will give two performances at the theater during the day.
The festivities really kick off at 3 p.m., she said, when Santa will arrive, via fire truck, at the new Boston Garden Patio, also on Liberty Street. He will visit with the children there until 5 p.m.
The Electric Lights Christmas Parade, Beith said, is one of the biggest and best around.
"The local folks really extend themselves," she said.
According to Beith, the floats, fire trucks, and even the school buses are decorated and ready for Christmas when the parade forms on 13th Street and begins its promenade down Liberty Street at 6 p.m.
Fireworks
After the parade, everyone is invited to Fountain Park, also on Liberty Street, for a fireworks display at 7:15 p.m.
The final event of the evening will be a free performance by Real Tango, a dance group from Argentina, at 8 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church on Elk Street, behind Fountain Park.
All day the strolling carolers will travel throughout the festival.
Beith said Franklin has had a Light Up Night for about 23 years, but over the years it has grown so much that they have moved it from evening to Saturday.
The Franklin Industrial & amp; Commercial Development Authority is sponsoring this year's parade. The City of Franklin, Dr. Scott Cartwright, UPMC Northwest, the Celtic Cafe, Gent, Gent & amp; Snyder and Franklin Elks Lodge 110 are sponsoring the fireworks. The Pennsylvania Council of the Arts and the Ohio Arts Council are presenting the Real Tango performance.