Christmas in the Square takes place in Storey Square select Saturdays this holiday season.
Uniontown, PA – Uniontown’s Storey Square, located on East Main Street, is a prime location to hold some of the city’s most popular events, including the Summer Concert Series and farmer’s markets. During the holiday season, it’s a bustling area full of lights, music and fun, thanks to Christmas in the Square.
Christmas in the Square kicked off on Nov. 25 and will be held again from 3-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. Storey Square’s festive holiday happenings have earned it December’s Fayette Faces and Places designation.
Christmas in the Square is the culmination of a lot of hard work, planning and collaboration between the Downtown Business District Authority and the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Uniontown, said Downtown Business District Authority chairperson Lauren Yohman.
Yohman said this year’s two-day event was a little bit different than last year’s Christmas in the Square. Not only did principal event organizers Yohman, Redevelopment Authority chairman Matt George, Nicole Heinbaugh, Joey Neubauer and Kendall Sisler streamline the event a bit after last year’s four-Saturday extravaganza, but the Downtown Business District Authority worked closely this year with Mayor Bill Gerke, and the city, including fire Chief Scott Conn and police Chief Delbert Dewitt.
Yohman said the city reached out specifically to partner on the Nov. 25 opening night festivities. “We pulled it off purely with donations and community involvement,” Yohman said, noting the first night included a parade complete with Santa Claus and a float contest. “We had probably 1,500 people in that park. It was insane.”
The second event on Saturday will be similar to the kick-off, minus the parade and with a few changes, Yohman said. “We have about 25 local businesses, nonprofits and churches participating this weekend, offering crafts, games and hot chocolate,” she said. “We’ll have two bonfires, a live DJ (Zane Breakiron) and Santa and Mrs. Claus. The area of Gallatin Avenue between Marilyn’s on Main and Neubauer’s Flowers is going to be blocked off, and Neubauer’s will have their giant, blow-up igloo.”
This Saturday, DiMarco’s Bistro and Cantina will team with Lizzie’s Boutique to create a pop-up bar for adults at the igloo. Yohman said the businesses will donate $2 per drink to Toys for Tots. Also this year, event organizers collaborated with Main Street Theater Company, the resident theater company at the State Theatre Center for the Arts. The theater is staging its annual production of The Nutcracker ballet, and ballerinas will make an appearance at Christmas in the Square.
“We’re kind of complementing The Nutcracker that is going on right next door,” Yohman said. “We thought including The Nutcracker would help encourage people to be there, rain or shine.”
The partnership seems to have been advantageous on both ends, as Yohman said the first night of Christmas in the Square was a “huge success,” and the theater company has sold out both its Saturday and Sunday performances this weekend.
Yohman said she appreciated show director Donna Marovic’s support for the collaboration. “They didn’t have to let us create chaos, but they did,” she said.
But ballerinas aren’t the theater company’s only contribution to the festivities. “They do Christmas carols around the bonfire. It is so cute,” Yohman said. “(Company director) John Wagner is doing remarkable things.”
Yohman said the event has drawn a great deal of community support, including sponsors K-2 Engineering, Melinda Dellarose, and the World of Good Foundation, each of whom contributed $250. DiMarco’s Bistro and Cantina provided the cash prize for the parade float contest.
Christmas in the Square also earned support from the Love Fayette movement and religious organizations including the Roman Catholic Churches of Uniontown, Faith Assembly, Mt. Olivet Baptist Church and Trinity United Presbyterian Church.
Yohman said businesses near the square, such as Joyce’s Fine Jewelry, have taken any disruptions in stride. “We want to thank them for welcoming us and being so cooperative,” she said.
To learn more about Christmas in the Square, visit the Facebook event page by searching “Christmas in the Square 2022”.
For more information about Fayette County, visit www.fayettecountypa.org.
Editor's Note: Photos attached (Christmas in the Square; Christmas in the Square2; Christmas in the Square3; Christmas in the Square4; Christmas in the Square5)
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This communication, among other initiatives, is funded through the 2016 Fayette County Local Share Account (LSA) in cooperation with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, Fayette Chamber of Commerce, The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette, The Redstone Foundation and other partners. This funding has been designated for the continued promotion and marketing of Fayette County, PA.
For more information, contact Kristi Kassimer Harper, Public Relations Specialist, at 412-691-0262, kkassimer@fayettecountypa.info or Kaylie Moore, Community Relations Coordinator, at 724-430-1200 Ext. 1611, kmoore@fayettepa.org.
