Latrobe’s holiday season will kick off on Thursday with Light-Up festivities and a Holiday Night Market.
Then, on Dec. 7, the town’s annual Holly Jolly event will return with games, crafts and a day filled with live music and entertainment.
Set for 5 to 8 p.m. in downtown Latrobe, Thursday’s activities include the opportunity to browse among vendors offering handmade wares along four blocks of Ligonier Street, stretching between Chestnut and Depot streets.
A new Happy Hour at participating businesses will add an extra helping of cheer to this year’s event. Hotel Loyal is featuring two holiday-themed beverages. Other locations that are joining in include Eclectique, Rusty Musket Distilling Co. and The Paper Heart, which also will offer mulled cider tasting.
Visitors can pose for a portrait with Santa and the Grinch at Maria Mejia Photography Studio. At Main and Ligonier streets, they can visit with some of Santa’s reindeer, which is a popular returning attraction.
Music is planned around the fire outside 512 Coffee & Ice Cream while the Latrobe Art Center will open its doors for a holiday craft session.
At James Rogers Park, at Jefferson and Main streets, a performance by the Salvation Army Brass Ensemble and the Holiday Harmonies Christmas Carolers will lead up to the lighting of the community tree, at 7 p.m.
Also next Saturday, a variety of Holly Jolly offerings are planned from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the vicinity of Main and Ligonier streets and nearby areas.
“Fan-favorite staples like Santa in the Park and the Holly Jolly Gingerbread House Contest will be returning,” said Michael Tusay, executive director of the Latrobe Art Center and one of the event’s coordinators. “We are also thrilled to offer brand new activities to the community including wreath-making and a seasonal exotic animal show.”
Set for 2:15 p.m., the animal show will bring to a close an entertainment lineup that begins at 9:30 a.m., with music by DJ Dark Shark. A magic show is set for 11:30 a.m. at the local Westmoreland County Community College branch campus — which also will host the wreath activity, with advance registration required.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., kids can visits with Santa at Rogers Park and attend a story time with Mrs. Clause at Adams Memorial Library. Other Holly Jolly features include barrel train rides, games and crafts, and artisan and farmers market vendors.
Throughout the extended weekend of celebrations, visitors can enter a prize raffle by stopping at downtown Latrobe merchants displaying a gingerbread man logo. They also can visit the WCCC campus, at Jefferson and Depot streets, to vote for their favorite among entries in the gingerbread house contest.
Visit hollyjollylatrobe.com for more information.