Shining moment: Holiday Light Parade in Kennett Square sparks festive cheer

KENNETT SQUARE — Despite brisk weather and early sunsets, the borough is shining bright with festive cheer.

Thousands of people celebrated the joy of Christmas and power of community engagement while attending the Holiday Light Parade in Kennett Square on Saturday.

“Our community events are incredibly important as to what makes Kennett Square Borough so very special,” said William Holdsworth, chief of the Kennett Square Police Department. “This was yet another shining moment of positivity, happiness and our coming together as one community.”

The chief said he received warm accolades from residents and visitors during and after the parade.

In most areas the spectators were 10-15 people deep on both sides of the parade route from the 200 block of South Broad Street all the way past the intended ending area of Meredith Street and West State Street, Holdsworth said.

“This was by far the largest Holiday Light Parade in Kennett Square’s history,” he said, “in both attendance and participation.”

“The Holiday Light Parade was fantastic,” said Mayor Matthew Fetick.

In past years, this annual event has been traditionally held the first Friday after Thanksgiving.

Regarding the boost in attendance, moving the date to Saturday evening really made a difference, the mayor said.

“The town was buzzing all day with holiday shoppers,” the mayor added.

Fetick lauded Kennett Square residents and businesses for being the “best” part of this “hometown parade.”

Although highly celebrated, the event still has a flare of low-key humbleness with so many locals united as parade participants and parade watchers.

Kennett Square’s mayor encouraged people to attend the borough’s upcoming family-friendly Mushroom Drop — also known as Midnight in the Square — on New Year’s Eve.

“It’s a fun and safe event to ring in the New Year,” Fetick said.

There will be a strong police presence to ensure public safety for the Mushroom Drop, as during the Holiday Light Parade held recently on November 26.

Holdsworth said Kennett Square police officers are “truly incredible” and “such an inspiration to me.”

He continued, “I continually ask a lot of the officers and they continue to deliver on those needs each and every shift which they work. Our community is very fortunate to have such dedicated officers here to serve them. The logistics of planning a large-scale public safety event such as this can be incredibly difficult.”

He said the Kennett Square Police Department puts a significant amount of time and effort into public safety planning for community events.

“I look forward to people being able to spend some quality time in Kennett Square Borough this holiday season,” Holdsworth said. “All of our wonderful businesses and restaurants are looking forward to the holiday shopping crowds.”

He said beginning this weekend, folks are invited to visit the Holiday Village Market, open at the Creamery, 401 Birch St., Kennett Square.

There is also free parking available in the borough’s parking garage on select weekend dates throughout December.

“I hope everyone has a happy, enjoyable, and peaceful holiday season,” Holdsworth said.

From the Holiday Light Parade in November to next year’s 39th Mushroom Festival and annual Memorial Day Parade for veterans — among countless other community events — there is much to celebrate in Kennett Square for Councilman Bob Norris.

“What inspires me is the incredible community members we live amongst. It is a community filled with great people who are compassionate about supporting each other and the great Kennett Square area,” Norris said.

“The volunteerism and desire to help neighbors out is truly a blessing,” he said.

“Now, more than ever, is a great time to reach out to make a new friend for helping a neighbor who might need a little extra help or who may not be an active part of the community,” Norris said. “My experience is all you have to do is ask and someone’s there to either get involved, or lend a hand themselves.”

Norris said another great upcoming event is the Kennett Winterfest on February 24.

Winterfest is a key fundraiser for Kennett Collaborative, the organization behind a score of community events including last weekend’s Holiday Light Parade.

Daniel Embree is the executive director of Kennett Collaborative, formerly known as Historic Kennett Square. Community stakeholders founded the organization in 1986.

“Traditions like the Memorial Day Parade and Holiday Light Parade help give Kennett Square some of its charm and personality,” Embree said.

“Yes, they bring thousands of people into town who then discover favorite shops and restaurants, which is an important part of our mission,” he said. Still even more, “these events showcase who our town is. These parades are some of our most diverse events in town. They highlight the people and culture of those who live here.”

As for the historic attendance at this year’s Holiday Light Parade — “good weather doesn’t hurt,” said Embree, adding that many people told him they could attend for the first time because the event was moved to Small Business Saturday. “We’re really happy we made that decision. I spoke with several of the merchants in town who all said Friday and Saturday combined exceeded their expectations. It was the best shopping weekend of the year by far.”

Embree said people started claiming spots to watch the parade at 3 p.m. — hours before the procession began that evening. Parking at the garage was free that day courtesy of Kennett Collaborative’s lead holiday sponsor, Longwood Gardens.

“There were nearly 100 floats, trucks, cars, and tractors from 85 participants, including long-time favorites like the Kennett Marching Band, Hicks Brothers, Manfredi, and Casa Guanajuato, as well as newcomers like Hangry Bear Creamery and Hank’s Place,” Embree said. “The whole crowd was very enthusiastic when the big mushroom came through that will be dropped on New Year’s Eve at Midnight on the Square.”

He said many volunteers made the Holiday Light Parade possible, but especially Carol Ciliberti who managed the parade lineup. Further, “I’d like to thank our police officers, fire and EMS departments, the borough, and public works for helping create a safe event. I have to thank our staff and board, and of course I’d like to thank our sponsors, including Longwood Gardens and Chatham Financial.”

As for the warm and inviting Bedford Falls meets Mayberry vibe in the borough this holiday season, there was strategic — and collaborative — planning behind that effort.

“We brought in some incredible partners to create holiday magic uptown this year,” Embree said. “We were inspired by Longwood Gardens’ theme, A Very Retro Christmas, which informed the look and feel of the campaign we’re calling There’s no place like Kennett Square for the holidays!”

As part of this holiday campaign, there will be a special Tinsel on the Town event with merchants in Kennett Square on December 8.

As for the decor brightening up the cold days with festive warmth along State Street and elsewhere, “we purchased a 20+ foot tree and covered it in silver, rose gold, teal, red, and pink ornaments. Longwood Gardens helped us source many of the ornaments, and our staff did the rest. Public works hung the garlands and lights on the poles along the street,” Embree said.

“We brought in Zena Florist to create an incredible display in the walkway to the garage where our volunteers hung sparkling lights. We partnered up with Spade and Trowel Garden Club to help us source local greens and fill the planters with them,” Embree said.

“I enjoy watching people walking about admiring all the decorations,” he said. “This really is an enchanting, hallmark town during the holidays.”