Ligonier shines bright in winter holiday season, with classic charm and distinct shopping

On a day when the snow is falling, the drive from Greensburg to Ligonier is a picturesque tableau of Christmas imagery, as Route 30 winds along the babbling Loyalhanna Creek through the wintery woods.

As visitors arrive in Ligonier Borough, the turn onto Route 711 opens up a well-lit lane, leading to the borough’s centerpiece, the Diamond bandstand. It wouldn’t be out of place in a Norman Rockwell Christmas painting, and Ligonier Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amy Beitel said she regularly gets calls from people who’ve heard the borough’s reputation as “a Hallmark holiday movie town come to life.”

“There are just so many great reasons that Ligonier is a wonderful place to do some holiday shopping,” Beitel said. “I think the bandstand is the heart and soul of the town. Year-round, you can see so many people coming there for different reasons. My family gets our annual holiday photo taken there.”

In fact, Ligonier was named among the top “Hallmark Christmas Towns” in a recent survey, coming in fourth, and in the company of Telluride, Colo., and Jackson, Wyo.

As the holidays swing into high gear, the borough has plenty to offer both residents and visitors alike. Whether it is boutique shops that offer unique items not often found in other places, the quaint, walkable downtown area or the full slate of holiday events that kicks off Nov. 26 with “Light Up Ligonier,” the community seemingly has something for everyone.

Chamber marketing committee chair Bryan Jarrell sees Ligonier as a national treasure. “When I was younger, everyone wanted to go somewhere a little more urban, building these livable, walkable communities, But I’ve had people visit from Brooklyn and say, ‘Wow, this is the type of thing people are moving to Williamsburg for,’ ” he said, referring to the popular Brooklyn neighborhood with an active street life. “I think having that is part of what makes us special.”

After lighting up the Diamond on Friday at 6:30 p.m., the borough and chamber will host a gingerbread house contest Dec. 3-12, a townwide open house Dec. 5, and the 31st annual Ligonier Ice Fest with more than 50 ice sculptures around town Jan. 22-23.

During the holiday season, local businesses will also donate an item that is unveiled as part of a store-window display during “Light Up Ligonier.” Raffle tickets are $2 and the items will be raffled on Dec. 28.

“There’s just a lot of great traditions, and we didn’t just make them up to get people to visit,” Jarrell said. “We love them, and if people want to join in, that’s great.”

Situated between Loyalhanna and Mill creeks, the borough already has the beauty of nature on its side, and an active chamber helps contribute to a vibrant business community.

That includes the dedication of large group of volunteers, without whom the chamber’s many holiday events wouldn’t be possible.

From teenage volunteers who help decorate the Diamond, to Ligonier football players helping out recently with work at Ligonier Beach, “I think they learn from the adults they see doing it,” Beitel said. “And I know who I can call on for the different things we do that require volunteers.”

Jarrell agreed.

“The volunteerism here is off the charts,” he said. “There’s a sense that everyone chips in because they’re interested in preserving what makes Ligonier, Ligonier.”

The Ligonier Chamber of Commerce provides a complete guide at ligonier.com.