Folks gathered in the Grove for the St. Petersburg Tree Lighting Night.
It was chilly and breezy in St. Petersburg, but spirits were high as folks gathered for the 2nd Annual St. Petersburg Christmas Tree Lighting and to kick off the holiday season. Tabby Wetzel welcomed everyone who braved the forecasted weather to come out for the event and led us in a prayer. Everyone sang a few Christmas songs, and then Miss Marcia and Lager read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” with the help of the children! Then there was the sound of the siren and saw the fire truck, as Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived . . . along with the rain. Through the downpour, Santa and Mrs. Claus waved and wished Merry Christmas to everyone. They didn’t seem to mind the weather and talked to all the kiddos. Soon the snack/beverage tent became EXTREMELY popular!! The rain cut the evening short, but everyone seemed to have a good time.
The Events Committee would like to thank the St. Petersburg Borough Council for their unwavering support (and patience). We could not imagine trying to do this without you!! Thank you also to Barry Sullivan and the St. Petersburg Rod and Gun Club for loaning us the canopy to cover the cookie/cupcake and hot chocolate tables . . . that was an event saver!!! Thank you so much to the St. Petersburg Fire Company for transporting Santa and Mrs. Claus to the tree lighting, and for providing us lights for the event. Santa is a very good friend of Quincy and John Deloe of St. Petersburg and Mrs. Claus is a close friend of Robin Michael of Emlenton! We were so happy that they were able to take time out of their extremely busy schedules to stop by and visit with our kiddos!!
The St. Petersburg Events Committee says, thank you also to RJ Feicht for your trailer and EZ Up, to RJ, Barry Sullivan, Scott Best, Terry Kriebel, Denny Wetzel, Dalton Callandar, Denny Sheakley, Sr. and Denny Sheakley, Jr., for your manpower in helping to set everything up and tear everything down, for running to retrieve supplies at the last minute, for moving tables and chairs and a hundred other things we needed done. To our cookie bakers and donators – Vickie Persic, Kathryn Ashbaugh, Missie Wetzel, Jessica Bowser, Tabby Wetzel, Marcia Best, and De Clover, and our cupcake baker – Tina Buchanan – we appreciate you all so very much!!! Thank you to the Elves who worked the snack/hot chocolate tables – Morgan Cratty, Sydney Rankin, and Dalton Callandar…you guys were awesome!! To the greeters, Sarah and Zach Henry (owners of the Silver Fox Theater and Event Center), thank you for handing out the song lyric sheets and the glow necklaces/bracelets. Also thank you to Pastor Amy Callandar for taking wonderful pictures at our tree lighting, and Dennis Ashbaugh for the use of his sound system. To Senator Scott E. Hutchinson, thank you for attending St. Petersburg's festivities. You have visited us two years in a row, and it's greatly appreciated.
The St. Petersburg Events Committee thanks anyone else who helped them in any way with our 2nd Annual Tree Lighting!! It was a success . . . soggy, but a success! It takes a community of elves to pull this off, and we appreciate every one of you!!
The 3rd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting will be Sunday, December 1, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. Mark your calendars now! Please come out for the event. Everyone is welcome.
The St. Petersburg Events Committee would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a joyous holiday season!!