It is almost that time — Christmas time, that is! While the holidays are rapidly approaching, Shippensburg wasted no time getting into the mood and spreading some Christmas cheer.
Nov. 21, the Downtown Organizations Investing Together (DOIT) held the 23rd annual Dickens’ Days Holiday Parade in town. The parade has become a fixture in what the town does to get into the holiday spirit and bring the Shippensburg community together to kickoff the season.
Local residents and students of Shippensburg University gathered to watch the parade that started at the Shippensburg borough office on Fayette Street and ended on Prince Street.
Christmas music was playing up and down King Street all night; some students heard the tunes and decided to check it out.
“I just heard the music and decided to walk down to see what was up, it was such a cool setting,” junior SU student Stephanie Connors said outside of her home on Earl Street. “It really got me in the Christmas mood!”
She was not the only one in her house that decided to check out the action. Erin Meade, Stephanie’s roommate, said, “I think this tradition is awesome, it’s great to see the community come together each year to put on something so special and show what the meaning of Christmas is all about.”
People from all ages and different youth groups, adult groups and different organizations participated in the events and helped make the night a success.
The floats were put in place for the event at 5:30 p.m. to make sure everybody was ready to go. Judges gave out awards for the floats that best demonstrated the parade’s theme, which was “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
After the parade ended around 8:00 p.m., people were able to visit the big man himself, Santa Claus. People could take pictures and go on carriage rides at the Orrstown Bank on King Street.
The event left Shippensburg buzzing with Christmas spirit. DOIT is always doing different events around the town and the parade is one of the most popular.
The only thing left to do is make the event even better for next year’s 24th annual parade.
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