New Kensington launches holiday season with tree lighting, mayor’s dinner; many more events to come

Brian C. Rittmeyer
Friday, Dec. 1, 2023 7:39 p.m. | Friday, Dec. 1, 2023 7:39 p.m.

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Brian C. Rittmeyer | Tribune-Review

Doris Hardy and her granddaughter, Anna Hardy, 3, sing Christmas carols with New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo and his wife, Amy, before the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.

Brian C. Rittmeyer | Tribune-Review

Darryl Johnson, pastor of Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in New Kensington, welcomes the first seating to New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo’s annual holiday dinner at the No. 1 fire hall before leading them in grace on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.

Brian C. Rittmeyer | Tribune-Review

Fire trucks were moved out of New Kensington’s No. 1 fire hall for Mayor Tom Guzzo’s annual holiday dinner on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.

Brian C. Rittmeyer | Tribune-Review

Arnold Mayor-elect Shannon Santucci and New Kensington police Chief Bob Deringer serve coffee during New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo’s annual holiday dinner at his city’s No. 1 fire hall on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.

Brian C. Rittmeyer | Tribune-Review

Azaleia Johnson, 10, of Lower Burrell concentrates as she serves cake with her grandfather, Darryl Johnson, pastor of Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in New Kensington, at New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo’s annual holiday dinner at the No. 1 fire hall on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.

Brian C. Rittmeyer | Tribune-Review

Joe Guzzo, brother of New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo, serves a meatball to D’Andre Anderson, 6, during the mayor’s annual holiday dinner on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.

New Kensington is kicking off the holiday season.

Residents gathered Friday evening at Ninth Street and Fourth Avenue for carols and the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree.

That was followed by Mayor Tom Guzzo’s annual holiday dinner at the city’s nearby No. 1 fire hall on Fourth Avenue. The dinner, including ham, chicken, pasta and more, was free to all.

Festivities will continue Saturday with the city’s Christmas Santa Parade downtown on Fifth and Fourth avenues.

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at Eighth Street and Fifth Avenue. It will proceed down Fifth to 11th Street, where it will turn left onto Fourth Avenue, proceeding down Fourth to Ninth Street where the grandstand will be by the Christmas tree.

Before the parade, a breakfast with Santa sponsored by the Burrell-New Kensington Rotary Club will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. at Knead Community Cafe on Barnes Street.

Free horse and carriage rides sponsored by the New Ken Downtown Partnership will be available from noon to 3 p.m. The horse stop will be outside Voodoo Brewing New Kensington Pub at 956 Fifth Ave.

Other upcoming holiday events at Voodoo include:

• Snoopy Christmas Paint ’n Sip with Uncle Dave’s Art Studio, 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 9. Tickets, which cost $40 and include one drink and all supplies, are available online.

• A Merry Market in collaboration with Sweet Alchemy Bakeshop, noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 17.

Scheduled participants include Abeille Voyante Tea Co., Adorned Alloys, Ariel West Illustrations & Fine Art, As You Are Botanicals, Audreygurumi, Dirty & Dainty Paws, Drunk Dino Designs, Fatcatness Art, Hangin’ Tuft, Kindness Crochet, Mami’s Bakes, Nurture PGH, Pigsburgh Squealers, Reeferriss Glass Art and Twisted Lather.

• An Ugly Sweater Party from 5 to 10 p.m. Dec. 16 featuring an ugly sweater contest, games, Christmas Jeopardy!, a photo booth and drink specials.

• Wag-Mas, a Christmas party for four-legged friends with free photos with Santa, from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 17.

• A Pajama Party from 5 to 10 p.m. Dec. 23 will feature Christmas movies, a photo booth, best PJ contest, games and crafts.