Warren's Old Fashioned Christmas

Plans are underway for a bigger and better Christmas celebration in downtown Warren.

And at the top of Warren Main Street's wish list is lots and lots of volunteers.

According to Main Street Manager Chris Cheronis, this year's Christmas Walk, scheduled for Dec. 7 in Warren will be expanded to include eight streets.

New additions to the annual celebrations include a return of the popular 'Santa House' and several recreations of parade floats from the 1930's.

The Christmas Walk and parade will encompass the downtown from Pennsylvania Ave. to Hickory St. to Market St. to Fourth Ave. The area will be divided into different Christmas themes.

We'll have a winter wonderland, Santa's Workshop, a nativity, open houses, Cheronis said "The Historical Society" will have sleigh rides.

Cheronis envisioned the revamped Christmas Walk becoming a countywide event, set in downtown Warren.

"A lot of our smaller outlying areas don't have the opportunity to have this on their own." Cheronis said.

"All the communities in the outlying areas can have an area in the downtown they can work on. We really want to make this a countywide event. This is not just a Warren event; we need to promote the entire county".

This year's Christmas celebration marks the return of the 'Santa House', which was located in the small park on Liberty St. between Cady's Hallmark and the McKissock Building.

"The Santa House is being built by Warren County Career Center students as we speak". Cheronis said, 'they are so excited about it".

The house will be permanently located in the park, Cheronis said, and will be utilized during various holidays.

When you mention to people that we're bringing it back, they get a big grin on their face, Cheronis said.

"That same kind of tradition we had, we can give it to our kids. How can that get any better"?

In addition to the Santa House, this year's celebration will feature several wood floats recreated from a video of Warren's 1939 Christmas parade.

"We're trying to get people involved to help build these floats". Cheronis said. "There's a lot of building involved. We need local craftsmen to help volunteer. We need local artists to help do the scenery. We want to hear from anyone interested in helping in the smallest way".

Anyone interested in volunteering to help Main Street with the Christmas celebration can contact the program's office at 723-1360 or email Chris at info@warrenpamainstreet.org.