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Events set to kickoff holiday season

There are many holiday happenings scheduled this weekend in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Here is a list of what is going on:

Buffalo Township

• Zion United Methodist Church, 438 Bear Creek Road, will have a live Nativity at 7 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Sunday at the church. Attend any of the 20-minute outdoor walk-thru presentations. Refreshments will be served after each performance in the fellowship hall.

East Vandergrift

• A Welcome to the Holidays celebration will be Saturday. A visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the borough building. Children will receive a goody bag, make a craft for the tree and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies. A tree decorating and lighting will be from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. in East Vandergrift Memorial Park. The events are sponsored by the Holiday Mothers, East Vandergrift Council and the East Vandergrift Community Foundation.

Freeport

• Freeport Renaissance Association’s Small Town Christmas Celebration will be Saturday in the borough. There will be a Christmas shop from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Freeport Area Library, breakfast with Santa, a bake sale, pet photos with Santa and more. A Christmas light-up parade will begin at 5 p.m. and the tree lighting with photos with Santa will be afterward at James E. Swartz Memorial Field. For a complete schedule, visit A Small Town Christmas – Freeport, PA on Facebook.

Harrison

• The Christmas parade will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Broadview Blvd., and Alabama Avenue, proceed down Broadview Blvd. to Heights Plaza. After the parade at Montana Avenue there will be visits with Santa, food and a gingerbread decorating contest. Highlands High School National Honor Society will have a Stuff a Bus event for Toys for Tots. New, unwrapped toys and monetary donations will be accepted.

Leechburg

• Gregg LeMay will present a Christmas recital of piano, voice and organ music at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Hebron Lutheran Church, 201 Main St. A combined choir from St. Paul Highfield and Hebron Lutheran churches will perform and there will be a reception with cookies and desserts afterward. Items for the Five Forces Homeless Heroes Stocking Project will be accepted. Details: 724-842-0801.

Lower Burrell

• Dr. Lawrence York will host a drive-thru toy drive to benefit the Salvation Army from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Forza Motorcars, 2555 Leechburg Road. Toys and monetary donations will be accepted. Please include batteries if you donation requires them. Checks should be made out to New Kensington Salvation Army.

New Kensington

• The annual Christmas parade will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday in downtown. Lineup will begin at 9 a.m. on Barnes Street. There will be no public parking available in the lots in the 800 and 900 blocks of Barnes Street.

• Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley will host Jingle Paws from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the shelter, 730 Church St. There will be photos with Santa and workshops to make a gingerbread house and an ornament for the shelter animals. Leashed pets welcome. Cost: $20 per family; children, $5; younger than 2, free; includes a photo with Santa, workshops and refreshments.

North Apollo

• The North Apollo Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Santa Run will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday. Santa will begin his travels in the upper section of town, proceed to the lower area and finish in the Pegtown area. Listen for the fire equipment.

Vandergrift

• The Kiski Valley Community Band will perform a Christmas concert to benefit Vandergrift Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the firehall, 278 Franklin Ave. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Donations will be accepted and snacks will be sold. Details: 724-567-7171 or vandergriftvfd1@gmail.com.

• The annual Jingle Bell Rock concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Casino Theater. Bands to be featured include Sourmash, Heidi and the Hellcats and Lenny Collini and His 4 Pak. Admission: $15. Tickets: casinotheater.org or Pomfret’s Paints and Variety, 149 Farragut Ave., Vandergrift.

West Deer

• East Union Presbyterian Church will host a Santa and Mrs. Claus pancake breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the East Union Community Center, 292 East Union Road. Donations will be accepted to support church maintenance and ministries.

Calendar

Allegheny Township

Friday: Alle-Kiski Day Quilters and Sewers will meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Allegheny Township municipal building, 136 Community Building Road. Bring your project. No dues or fees. Free parking, lighting, tables and electrical outlets available. Bring a lunch and drinks. The group meets the first and third Friday of each month. Details: Pat, 724-601-3089.

Allison Park

Friday: The Pittsburgh North chapter of the Women’s Business Network will meet at 9 a.m. at Parkwood United Presbyterian Church, 4289 Mt. Royal Blvd. Those attending can learn how the group supports the success and growth of women in business. Meetings are the first and third Fridays of the month. Reservations required. Reservations: Kathy Bell, 412-855-0578.

Apollo

Today: Apollo Area Historical Society will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the WCTU Building, 317 N. Second St.

Saturday: The Sacrament of Anointing will be administered after the 4:30 p.m. Mass at St. James Church, 109 Owens View Ave.

Tuesday : The Rather Be Reading Book Club for adults at Apollo Memorial Library will meet at 6 p.m. at the library, 219 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Details and membership information: tinyurl.com/yc8c335t.

Arnold

Friday: St. Vladimir Church, 1610 Kenneth Ave., is accepting orders for its pierogi sale. Varieties: potato or sauerkraut. Pickup: 12:30 to 4 p.m. Fridays in the church social hall. Cost: $12 per dozen. Orders: 724-339-9257, 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Saturday: Arnold United Methodist Church, 1801 Leishman Ave., will host an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon at the church. Menu: choice of plain, blueberry, pecan and chocolate chip pancakes or French toast, sausage and drink. Dine in or takeout. Cost: $8; 12 and younger, $6.Details: 724-339-2377.

Saturday: Homemade doughnuts will be sold from 6 to 10 a.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 1721 Victoria Ave. Cost: $8 per dozen. Orders: 724-335-0101.

Avonmore

Saturday: A Christmas craft show will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Avonmore Senior Center, 458 Railroad St. There will be a silent auction, food, baked goods and a 50/50. Details: 724-697-4014.

Butler County

Today: The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Butler County will offer a free online support group at 7 p.m. at Zoom.us for families and friends of those living with a mental illness. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-431-0069 or info@namibutler.org.

East Vandergrift

Saturday and Sunday: A rummage sale will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and noon to 1 p.m. Sunday in the basement of Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church, 420 McKinley Ave. All Halloween, Thanksgiving and fall items will be half off.

Tuesday : Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish is selling tickets for a St. Nicholas Day raffle. Winning numbers will be the first drawn Pennsylvania Daily Pick 3 numbers at noon and 7 p.m. on St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6. Winners will each receive $1,000, a $100 gift certificate to The Central Restaurant in Apollo and a $100 gift certificate to Naser Foods in Oklahoma Borough. Cost: $10, includes two numbers. Tickets: Deborah, 724-859-3186 and in the parish office.

Freeport

Today: Freeport Renaissance Association will meet at 7 p.m. at United Presbyterian Church, 411 High St. New members welcome.

Gilpin

Today: Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department will host bingo at 7:15 p.m. at the firehall, 113 Firehall Road.

Harrison

Friday: Natrona Heights Veterans of Foreign Wars will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the post, 894 Veterans Lane. Doors open at 6 p.m., and there will be specials, a 50/50 raffle and final game jackpot.

Jefferson

Today: Bingo will be at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion, 754 N. Pike Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. Under new management with higher payouts. The kitchen will be open. Proceeds benefit post and auxiliary projects.

Leechburg

Today: The free genealogy group at Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society will meet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the museum, 118 First St. Basic computer skills required. Ancestry.com and Newspaper.com are available. Details: Judy, 724-681-9154.

Today: A story time for preschoolers will be at 10:30 a.m. at Leechburg Public Library, 139 Market St. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-236-0080.

Today: A New Path Al-Anon Family Group, a free, confidential program for anyone whose life has been affected by someone else’s drinking, will meet at 7 p.m. in First United Methodist Church, 251 Main St.

Lower Burrell

Saturday: The Veterans of Foreign Wars will feature the band Better Late from 8 to 11 p.m. at the post. Members and three guests welcome.

Dec. 12: The American Legion Auxiliary Christmas Party will be at 6 p.m. at the post, 1100 Wildlife Lodge Road. Menu: prime rib and shrimp or chicken piccata. Cost: $10, refundable deposit. Send menu choice and paid reservations to Lori Barbieri, 301 Nebraska Drive, Lower Burrell PA 15068 or drop off at the post.

New Kensington

Today: Knead Community Café in New Kensington will hand out free grab-and-go meals from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the café, 1011 Barnes St. This week’s meals are sponsored in honor of Claire and Reese Orait. Details:878-847-7997.

Today: New Kensington Eagles Auxiliary Bingo will be at 7 p.m. at the aerie, 2134 Freeport Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open. Public welcome. Details: 724-448-7403.

Today: The Secular Organization for Sobriety/Save Our Selves (SOS), a support group for people recovering from alcohol and drug abuse, will meet at 7 p.m. at Lost Dreams Awakening Recovery Community Center, 408 Eighth St. Details: 724-556-0737.

Friday: The Christmas bingo planned by East Kensington Community Circle is canceled.

Saturday and Tuesday: The Community Clothes Closet, 1129 Kenneth Ave., will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday. Items available include clothing for all members of the family, shoes and linens. First-time customers receive 15 free items. Winter clothing donations accepted during business hours.

Dec. 14: The Myrrh Bearing Women of St. George Orthodox Church are accepting orders for a Christmas sweets sale. Pickup: noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at the church, 1150 Leishman Ave. Prices: baklawa, $14 per 10-piece wedge; and sambosic, $2.50 each. Quantities are limited. Order deadline: Dec. 9. Orders: 724-337-3918.

Springdale

Today: Lower Valley Community Food Bank will distribute food from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday from the rear entrance of the Springdale borough building. Do not arrive before 12:45 p.m. Anyone in need of food who lives in Springdale, Springdale Township, Cheswick, Harmar and the sections of Indiana Township and West Deer with a zip code of 15024 is welcome. New recipients can register Thursday.

Tarentum 

Weekdays: Free food and hygiene items are available at Highlands Family Center, 415 E. Fourth Ave., suite 12. Hours: noon to 8 p.m. Mondays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Details: 724-224-9006.

Today: The free diaper bank at Highlands Family Center, 415 E. Fourth Ave., will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. One distribution per child per month is available. Details: 724-224-9006.

Sunday and Tuesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St. An opportunity for silent prayer will be at 6:30 p.m.

Vandergrift

Today: Vandergrift Public Library’s free Light up the Library event will be at the library, 128C Washington Ave. Children and their families can attend at 6 or 6:30 p.m. Activities for all ages will include visits with Santa, card making, ornament building, cookie decorating, refreshments and pictures with Santa. Funding for the event was provided by the Upsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-568-2212.

Dec. 4: A free breakfast with Santa for children 10 and younger at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 141-143 Sumner Ave. Reservations required. Reservations and details: Vandergriftbackwhen@hotmail.com.

Washington Township

Friday: Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 4078 Route 66. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and sales start at 6 p.m. Free coffee. The kitchen will be open. Players must be at least 18 or accompanied by an adult.

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