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Downtown comes alive with parade

The streets of downtown Steubenville will come alive Saturday when the city’s annual Christmas parade makes its trek down Fourth Street.

Organizers have been working for many months to ensure the holiday spirit can be shared throughout the community. Eastern Gateway Community College is the title sponsor for this year’s parade, which organizers say will include more than 90 units.

This year’s parade falls on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day, and will honor the men and women who have served and are serving in the military.

The grand marshals – members of AMVETS, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and American Legion Posts 33 and 274 – will lead the parade on a float headed by a color guard from the Adena American Legion.

Marching bands from area high schools, floats designed and sponsored by local civic organizations and businesses and costumed characters will join in the trip from North Street to South Street that will begin at noon. The highlight, of course, will be the arrival of Santa Claus.

Among the floats expected to be a part of the parade will be one that celebrates the Grand Theater. A special free open house will be held in the restored lobby of the Grand, located at 121 S. Fourth St., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, with a one-time tour of the overall building set for 2 p.m. The cost of the tour will be $25, with proceeds going toward the restoration project.

The Tri-State Harmonizers, meanwhile, will bring their a cappella talents to the parade on a float that’s presented by the Herald-Star.

To help get spectators ready for the parade, a special pre-event program will be presented by the Brenda Casey Dance Center. That performance is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. at the corner of Fourth and Market streets.

Major sponsors for the parade include Trinity Health System, the Kessler Family, the Fort Steuben Visitor’s Center and Cardinal Wealth Management. Additional support is being provided by Jefferson Security, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, the Steubenville Lions Club, M&M Hardware, Mayor Domenick Mucci and the Phi Thea Kappa fraternity of the community college.

Saturday will be a busy day for parades in communities throughout our area. Chester’s parade is scheduled to start at 2 p.m., the Brilliant parade is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m., Toronto’s annual parade is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. and the annual Cadiz parade is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

We hope you’ll join in sharing the holiday spirit and community pride that will be on display this weekend by joining us at one of our area’s parades.

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