The Coatesville Christmas Parade is scheduled for Dec. 3. Photo by Robert O. Williams
The Williams Group
Once again this year, Chester County’s largest hometown parade, the Coatesville Christmas Parade, takes place down the historic Lincoln Highway, on Dec. 3, at 10:00 a.m. Conceived back in the 1950s, the Parade has been a tradition ever since that time. Last year, over 160 plus entries graced the Lincoln Highway from dancers swirling their batons, to fleets of tow trucks, police cars and fire trucks, to local contractors showing off their custom-crafted floats. The Coatesville Christmas Parade has it all.
This year’s Presenting Sponsor is Cleveland-Cliffs. “Cleveland-Cliffs is a steel plate production facility located in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, approximately 40 miles west of Philadelphia. This strategic location in eastern Pennsylvania allows for good highway and railroad access. The plant produces steel from scrap in an electric arc furnace (EAF) and can produce approximately 800,000 tons of raw steel annually. The Coatesville facility refines more than 450 different steel chemistries and, together with the Conshohocken facility located just 33 miles away, produces some of the widest, thickest, and heaviest steel plates in the industry,” according to their information. Cliffs now operates the plant formerly known as the Lukens Steel Company.
“We are pleased and excited to be supporting this annual holiday event that brings together our community for a cherished hometown tradition. With over 600 employees at our steel plate production facility, family and community are very important to us at Cleveland-Cliffs, and we take pride in our work with our neighbors to support a healthy and vibrant community,” said Troy Graver, General Manager, Coatesville operation.
The Platinum Sleigh sponsor this year is Penn Medicine. “Chester County Hospital and Lancaster General Health Parkesburg are part of Penn Medicine. With physicians, programs, services, and locations throughout western Chester County, we offer an array of inpatient, outpatient medical and surgical services so you can maintain a healthy lifestyle,” according to Debbie Wertz, Manager, Ambulatory Operations, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Parkesburg. “Chester County Hospital is committed to serving the Coatesville community. Together with Lancaster General Health, our teams stand ready to provide the western quadrant of Chester County with exceptional clinical services and programs aimed at keeping its residents well,” cites Chester County Hospital CEO, Michael Duncan. Learn more at PennMedicine.org/Locations.
This year’s Grand Marshall is the Krapf Group. “The Krapf Group is a family-owned and operated transportation business established in 1942, by George Krapf, Jr., to provide pupil transportation for the local municipalities. Initially operating with two school buses, the company has grown and expanded, not only in size, but also in scope and diversity. In addition to pupil transportation, Krapf’s provides public and paratransit transportation and motorcoach service,” according to their information.
This year’s parade is made possible through the generosity of the following sponsors: Alliance for Health Equity, Beaver Creek Tavern, Belfor, Breuninger Insurance, Brian Hoskins Ford, Coatesville Country Club, Coatesville Marriott, Chester County Economic Development Council, Citadel, City of Coatesville, Cleveland-Cliffs, CTDI, Edge Wallboard, Episcopal Church of the Trinity, G.A. Vietri, James Terry Funeral Homes, The Polish American Citizens Club, PA American Water, PECO, Penn Medicine – Chester County Hospital, Penn Medicine – Lancaster General Health/ Parkesburg, Presence Bank, S&T Bank, ServPro of Kennett/Oxford, Stewart Huston Charitable Trust, The Williams Group, Top Notch Builders, WAWA and Wegmans.
This hometown parade has become a cherished memory for the families of the Coatesville area and the entire Chester County region. This event now reaches into the hearts and memories of Coatesvillians everywhere, as it now streams live (and able to be viewed after the run date) on CoatesvilleChristmasParade.com.
Slated to perform this year are Mummers bands, the Sixers Stixers, local elementary, middle, and high school groups, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Brownies. There will also be dance academies, cheerleading groups, hip-hop dancers, and baton twirlers. Not to be missed is the always-a-show-pleaser, larger-than-life cartoon characters. An automotive competition featuring Antique, Classic and Modified autos will be competing for prizes. Another competition is for Best Appearing Fire Apparatus, with the expectation that all the local fire companies in Western Chester County will be represented. Chester County police departments will compete for Best Appearing Police Vehicle.
The competition for Best Appearing Float sponsored by a non-profit organization features prizes of $500 for first place, $300 for second place, and $200 for third place. There is also a Best Appearing Float sponsored by a for-profit organization. They compete for bragging rights. Lastly, there will be a competition for Best Appearing Group. Note that all competitions are for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places.
Bringing up the rear of the parade will be none other than the big man himself, Santa Claus, riding on a Coatesville Fire Department truck. And best of all, admission is free. Visit the Parade at www.CoatesvilleChristmasParade.com for more information.
For information on this event, kindly contact Greg DePedro at 610.384.2677 or www.coatesvillechristmasparade.com
Or email us at committee@coatesvillechristmasparade.com
