Kutztown welcomed families and community members to Main Street on Dec. 5 for Christmas in Kutztown.
“We certainly hope that this event brings people into the holiday spirit,” said Kutztown Community Partnership Main Street Manager Nancy Brooks.
“I think the event’s lovely,” said Brooks. “We could not have had better weather. Everybody came together in the community, especially our Promotions Committee, in helping to put this event together and bring all of these different activities to Main Street.”
The previous week’s event Small Business Saturday encouraged community members to shop local for holiday gifts, as did Christmas in Kutztown.
“This solidifies that for our small town,” said Brooks.
The event closed Main Street to vehicle traffic, allowing attendees to stroll along the street, listening to holiday music and visit vendors and stores.
The second annual Christmas in Kutztown featured music, a children’s workshop, pictures with Santa and Santa’s Workshop, Christmas Tree Train Rides at the Train Station with trees and wreaths for sale, horse drawn wagon rides, a Christmas reading of Scrooge from the Talisman Players and fire pits in the middle of Main Street.
“It’s a combination of vendors on the street and the stores are open. You can see really fun and exciting things going on,” said KCP board member Janet Yost, Kutztown Community Library Director. “I like the fire pits myself because I love the smell of wood burning. There’s music all over the place provided by community members. It’s going to be a fun day.”
Organized by Kutztown Community Partnership, Christmas in Kutztown was sponsored by the Kutztown University Sesquicentennial, Kutztown Rotary Club, KCP and the Kutztown Bicentennial.
According to a Kutztown Community Partnership release, the second annual event featured expanded musical offerings, including Kutztown University musical groups the Clarinet Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Bear Voices choir and strolling Trombone Choir along Main Street. The day also featured performances by bands and choirs from Kutztown Area School District and area musicians.
“My kids are here to perform,” said Kutztown School District music teacher Shannon Sunday. “It’s a great way to bring all of Kutztown together and allow the kids in the schools to give back to their community.”
Pastor Dennis Ritter played holiday music while collecting donations on behalf of Friend Inc. for the Salvation Army during Christmas in Kutztown.
“I do it every year, just about 20 years I think,” said Ritter. “I enjoy it. It’s an important part of my preparation for the holiday coming up. It does a lot of good for people in our community.”
This was his first time at the Christmas in Kutztown event.
“It’s a great day,” he said. “It looks like there are quite a few people out on the street so it’s been a good event for the community.”
Other performers included Austin Kruczek, Thomas Shugar, Kathryn Brooks, Kutztown Community Choir, Elissa Lee from GT Church, Keith Brintzenhoff and more local music performances at Young Ones Records including Kathryn Brooks and The Groceries.
Debbie Berger sat at the Kutztown Bicentennial table.
“This is a great event. It’s not raining like last year,” said Berger. “There’s a lot of people out, and expect more. There’s a lot of good vendors. There’s lots of good music.”
Kutztown residents Emily Dietrich-Witmer and her husband Adam Witmer brought their daughter Sophia, 6 and a half, to Christmas in Kutztown for the first time. Their first stop was at Santa’s Workshop where Sophia had her photo taken with Santa.
“I think it’s nice. It reminds me of when I was a kid,” said Emily.
Sophia thought Santa was nice. She asked Santa for a house building kit for Christmas.
Santa’s Helpers Madison Hayes, Kierman Daniels and Jessica Ames, all Kutztown University student volunteers, helped at Santa’s Workshop.
“It’s nice to see the kids excited about (Santa),” said Daniels.
“I like helping Santa, definitely,” said Ames. “I like interacting with the kids. I like it. It’s a good job.”
Christmas in Kutztown also included an interactive nativity at Trinity Lutheran Church, open art studios, Mayor’s Christmas Movie “The Polar Express” playing at the Strand Theater, KUBoK Holiday Basket Give Away, 12 Days of Christmas Tree Walk and the Community Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Historical Society.
Other events held on Saturday in Kutztown included Breakfast with Santa and Avalanche at KU, Marilyn’s Dance Studio performance of “The Nutcracker” in the Kutztown Area High School Auditorium, Christmas on the Farm at KU PA German Cultural Heritage Center. On Sunday, Friends of the Kutztown Community Library hosted the annual Holiday House Tour benefit.
