SCRANTON, Pa. — The gym at Johnson College transforms into a rehearsal space for many performers in this year's Santa Parade in Scranton.
The annual holiday tradition will be broadcast live on WNEP. Newswatch 16’s Jon Meyer, Mindi Ramsey, and Claire Alfree will be your hosts.
Tom Fritz, the parade's public relations director, says getting the show ready is a labor of love that takes months.
“All year is how we plan this. And to finally get people in a place, and they're happy, and they're doing all of their routines that they've practiced for months and months to get into the parade, this is what it is all about,” he said.
Groups like the Double 'R' Twirlettes are making downtown Scranton their stage for this year's Santa Parade. According to Kathleen Mercatili, the director of the Double 'R' Twirlettes, it's a holiday tradition they've never missed since the Santa Parade started in the Electric City.
“We've been in the Santa parade for 30 years now, every year since we started. And it is a great day. There are a lot of events going on downtown following the parade, and of course, Santa is there as well,” she said.
These twirlers have been practicing with Christmas music for months to debut their new routine on the parade route, marching from Franklin Avenue to Courthouse Square.
“We've been practicing since last September for the parade, and this is definitely one of our favorite events of the year, and it kicks off the holiday season,” Mercatili added.
Sadie Solensky is this year's Double 'R' Twirlettes featured performer, something she's been working toward for a decade.
“I've been doing this parade since I was 6 years old, and I'm 16 now, so it's just a very exciting time because it's the start of the holiday,” she said.
She and the people along the parade agree it wouldn't feel like the holiday season without the Santa Parade.
“With 30 years, now we're into people that were there as a kid bringing their kids, and the ones from the beginning who always brought their kids are now bringing their grandkids,” Fritz said.
A tradition both performers and spectators get to enjoy.
To get a front-row seat to these performances, The Santa Parade will step off from Franklin Avenue on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
A map posted by the Scranton Police Department shows parking restrictions in place on Saturday.
Enjoy last year's Santa Parade on WNEP's YouTube channel: