111-Year-Old Tradition Welcomes Holiday Season To Doylestown

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Hundreds gathered in the heart of Doylestown Borough Friday night to welcome the holiday season with a tradition dating back more than a century.

The town’s 111th tree lighting ushered in the excitement of the season in grand fashion, with Santa welcoming the crowd from a bucket truck high above Main and State and the spirit of the season filling the air.

Staged by Discover Doylestown and supported by Simply Fresh, the Borough of Doylestown, and the Doylestown Fire Company No. 1, this year’s event was emceed by Richard Curtis from FOX 29.

Curtis welcomed the crowd to the 111th town tree lighting and warmed young and old with holiday trivia and interviews leading up to the grand arrival of Santa.

“We are so proud to call this our hometown and we are so glad you are here to help us celebrate 111 years of lighting up this gorgeous tree,” Curtis said.

“This year’s tree is beautiful,” he said of the 25-foot-tall Nordmann Fir donated to the town by Bountiful Acres. The 600-pound tree decorated with 7,000 LED lights stands as a symbol of the season at the intersection of State and Main.

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

The witches - Elphaba and Galinda - from the newly released movie, “Wicked,” joined this year's celebration. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

Frosty, Rudolph and Mrs. Claus. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

Main St. Missions. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Grinch and the Abominable Snowman make an appearance. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Elphaba "Wicked" greets her fans. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

As the air of anticipation filled the intersection, several special guests greeted the crowds, including Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, Mrs. Claus, and Elphaba and Galinda from the newly released movie, “Wicked.”

Just after 6 p.m., the Winterfest Parade arrived at the intersection featuring Bucks Bubbles, Main St. Missions, Bountiful Acres, the Rainbow Room, Action Karate, Nook Nook, Fred Beans, Friendship Fire Company from Linwood, Watts, Junk Elves, Doylestown Borough Public Works, the CB West Marching Band and Cheerleaders, and lots more.

Santa arrived in the heart of town aboard a century-old antique fire truck escorted by members of the Doylestown Fire Company No. 1.

With the assistance of the firefighters, the man of the hour made his way to a nearby bucket truck, which lifted him high above the intersection where he greeted Doylestown with waves and a jolly “Ho, Ho, Ho.”

Youngsters screamed out Santa’s name as Curtis joined Santa in counting down to the lighting of the tree.

Suddenly, the darkened corner of Main and State was ablaze with light as the 25-foot-tall tree sparkled in the cold late November night air.