Oakmont Hometown Christmas celebration is back after a pandemic hiatus
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The Oakmont Hometown Christmas celebration took the 2020 season off due to the covid-19 pandemic.
It’s back in action this year and is being planned as one of the biggest celebrations yet.
Scheduled for a 4 p.m. start Nov. 20, there’s a slew of holiday-themed activities planned. The highlight will be the parade, which starts in Verona at 5 p.m. and continues down Allegheny River Boulevard into Oakmont and all the way to Pennsylvania Avenue. The night also features the light up of all the trees and businesses that line the boulevard to kick off the holiday season with cheer.
Sponsored by State Farm Springer Insurance, the celebration traditionally packs the streets with attendees, and that’s expected again this year, said Director of the Oakmont Chamber of Commerce Karen DeTurk. “On a good night, we get thousands of attendees,” she said.
This year’s event is also coordinating a trolley service with the neighboring town of Verona, where another holiday celebration will be happening. Supplied by Pittsburgh-based Molly’s Trolleys and designed to allow residents of the Twin Boroughs to enjoy both celebrations easily, the trolley will run from 3 to 11 p.m. and make multiple stops, including Oakmont Bakery and Carnivores in Oakmont and Acclamation Brewing and Railroad Park in Verona.
No holiday celebration is complete without music, and the Oakmont clock tower has a full slate of performances on tap for the entire day sponsored by Thermo Twin Windows. The schedule kicks off with a performance by Amy’s Dance Academy at 4:15 p.m., which is then followed by the St. Iranaeus pre-school carolers at 4:45. The music takes a break at 5 p.m. for the parade, which features an emcee, in addition to a float contest. There will be three judges deciding on the top float, and the winner takes homes a $200 prize, which is sponsored by First National Bank in Verona. The clock tower gets jumping again at 6:15 p.m.with a performance by the Redeemer Lutheran School Choir, and then the Greater Harmony North Hills Chorus starts at 6:50, leading into the lighting of the Christmas tree at 7:30.
The celebration will include more than 25 vendors lining up along the Boulevard and will feature multiple food trucks, hot cocoa and other warm beverages, and two different kettle corn vendors. There will also be the usual 50/50 raffle and a big holiday Chinese auction, which is sponsored by Ace Hardware, Etta’s Boulevard Doggie Daycare, and Thermo Twin Windows. Santa Claus will also be at the Oaks Theater from 6 to 8 p.m. meeting all the little ones and taking Christmas lists. Santa’s appearance will be sponsored by Presby Senior Care.
But the most important thing is that the Hometown Christmas is back on after last year’s hiatus. It’s a long-standing celebration that area residents have been attending for decades and is the official kickoff of the holiday season in the local area. ““I’ve been told this annual event has been going on in Oakmont for over 50 years. So many families come together to start their holiday season here. It’s so beautiful to see all the shops and restaurants decorated for the holidays. What a wonderful way to kick off the holiday shopping season,” DeTurk said.