Verona, Oakmont host holiday events the same day

Holiday events in Verona and Oakmont brought thousands of area residents to both boroughs to celebrate the season.

Activities began in Verona for its third annual Jolly Jamboree Nov. 18.

There were performances by students of the Western Pennsylvania Center for the Arts under the direction of Bonnie Myers-Toward. Youths played a variety of Christmas songs, including “Feliz Navidad.”

Verona Chamber of Commerce had a window decorating contest, an ornament decorating contest and a cookie tour.

Lower Valley Athletic Foundation collected toys for children.

Hot chocolate was available in the borough building and holiday movies played in council chambers.

“Each year, we have added a little here and a little there,” chamber president Stefani Garibay said. “The last two years we have done a Brewery Bonfire after the parade, which brings in local breweries, friends and a fire provided by our Verona Volunteer Fire Department.

“Our window contest and cookie tour was a success, bringing neighbors near and far to walk around our town’s business district, enjoy holiday cookies and family time before the parade. For the third year in a row, we had Molly’s Trolleys, which took riders in a loop to our various breweries, businesses and restaurants between Verona and Oakmont.”

Council vice president Trish Hredzak-Showalter said she noticed more people in Verona for the Jamboree than ever before.

“We had a wonderful day, with more people than ever strolling through the borough, hopping on our trolly to easily visit businesses up the hill and in Oakmont, packing into the Railroad Park pavilion to watch the students with the WPCA play, and of course lining the streets for what seemed like the best Hometown Holiday parade in recent years,” she said. “All of the volunteers within the borough and chamber are looking forward to seeing the Jolly Jamboree continue to grow.”

Multiple vendors were lined up along Allegheny River Boulevard for Oakmont’s Hometown Christmas & Parade.

Many of the borough’s activities were presented by the Oakmont Chamber of Commerce.

The parade began around 5 p.m. by the Verona borough building and traveled into Oakmont via the boulevard.

Riverview High School Marching Band led the way. There were trucks from multiple fire departments, including Oakmont, Verona, Plum, Springdale and Blawnox.

Other marchers included Girl Scout troops, Joyful Twirlers, Just Catch It Twirling Studio, Outlaws Off Road Riders, Plum EMS and various Riverview School District sports teams.

There was very little wiggle room as onlookers lined the boulevard in rows at least three people deep.

Santa arrived via Oakmont fire truck and took pictures at the Oaks Theater.

Other Oakmont activities included a performance by Kelsey’s Dance Company, a quintet, Redeemer Lutheran School Choir, Joyful Twirlers, Ovations School of Dance and the Oakmont Lions Club Band.

A drone light show closed out the evening.

Jack Schultz, 6, of Oakmont, had the best view sitting atop his father Torrey’s shoulders.

He said his favorite part of the day was seeing Santa on the fire truck.

His mother, Leah, said her favorite part was watching her son get into the spirit of Christmas.

Torrey said the family has been to previous Oakmont holiday celebrations, and this year was the best.

“The crowd and the vendors and everything was great,” he said. “It’s the biggest crowd ever.”

A video of the drone show can be found on Oakmont’s Facebook page.