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Holiday Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting provided truly magical moments
By Ed Runyan
YOUNGSTOWN
There were moments Friday night when the Youngstown Holiday Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony downtown was truly magical.
One was when the sound coming down East Federal Street was a multitude of police sirens coming toward Central Square.
Behind the Youngstown police and Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office cruisers and motorcycles making the sound were bands full of drums booming and horns playing to the people lined up along Federal Street.
Many in attendance were children in their rain ponchos and coats collecting candy canes and other treats as they waited and watched for Santa Claus.
Sarah McKimmy of Masury, who was attending the parade with her brother, J.P. McKimmy, her two children and J.P.’s two children, said the parade was a first for her.
“The music, the lights and the children excited to see Santa,” is how Sarah McKimmy ranked the importance of the unfolding events.
“This is something that adds to the spirit of Christmas,” she said as Christmas music was broadcast throughout the square.
Tucker, her 3-year-old son, knew what he would be asking Santa for later inside 20 Federal Place, where other events took place: “A firetruck,” he said.
Not far away on Central Square, Candace Nutter of Youngstown stood with her 4-year-old and 14-month-old daughters as military veterans, high school bands, and floats passed by.
Nutter said she has enthusiastically started to prepare her home and family for Christmas and enjoys getting into the holiday spirit.
“I make crafts with the kids. We have a gingerbread house, Willy Wonka style,” she said. She held up 14-month-old, Kaydence, who was dolled up in a Christmas dress and Santa hat.
The second truly magical moment came when the parade was over, and it was time to light the downtown Christmas tree.
As volunteers pulled down the plunger that lit the tree and lots of other lights all around, it was starting to feel a lot like Christmas, despite the rain.
“I’m really thrilled there are so many people here despite the rain,” said Erin Driscoll of downtown Youngstown, director of student activities and student life at Youngstown State University.
The university promoted the tree-lighting and parade at the campus as a way to celebrate the last day of classes before finals start next week.
“It kicks off the season with the right spirit,” she said. “It’s really nice that there was more than just the Christmas tree.”
Debbie Hickson of Youngstown, took pictures as the lights came on. “I’m like a big kid,” she said. “It is wonderful. I like the parade. It brings back the Christmas spirit.”