Holiday parade lives on in the Steel Valley

With Homestead borough’s event planner and program director Denise Kelly retired, some thought there would be no Christmas parade in the Steel Valley this year.

Steel Valley residents should fear not as Homestead Mayor Betty Esper has stepped up as the coordinator of the Historic Steel Valley Christmas Parade, planned for Saturday at noon.

Parade lineup will be at 11:15 a.m. along Forest Avenue in West Homestead. The parade will go from Forest Avenue down Eighth Avenue to end at Shop’n Save in Homestead for cookies and drinks.

“It’s very hard for someone to step in,” Esper said. “I’m using the lineup from last year. It’s like (Kelly) is helping us organize it.”

Kelly organized the parade for more than 15 years. Esper organized the parade before Kelly. Esper said the majority of the groups in the parade last year also signed up this year. U.S. Steel once again is sponsoring the parade and Santa Claus will be the grand marshal.

“It’s his parade,” Esper said. “Why shouldn’t he be grand marshal?”

The parade will begin with equipment from surrounding fire organizations.

It will include local mayors and other elected leaders. Homecoming queens from Steel Valley and West Mifflin Area high schools will precede their school’s bands. Other high school marching bands in attendance will be Westinghouse and Pittsburgh Oliver. KDKA’s traffic and transportation reporter Jim Lokay will be in the parade. Arrangements are still being worked out for a possible appearance by Steel Valley High School’s all-time leading rusher, tailback Delrece Williams.

The parade’s approximately 100 units will include local police departments and EMS companies, Scouts, clowns, stilt walkers, military organizations, dance groups, musical groups, puppeteers, costumed characters and antique cars.

There will be no prizes for window decorating or floats this year.

“The parade is important because it brings our three communities together along with our wonderful neighbors to celebrate the season,” parade committee member Colleen Fedor said.

Before and during the parade, there will be no parking in the 100-300 block of E. Eighth Avenue and the 100 block of W. Eighth Avenue. From approximately noon to1:30 p.m., motorists will not be able to cross the Homestead Grays Bridge or access Eighth Avenue in Homestead in any direction. Port Authority buses will be rerouted during that time.

Anyone who would like to participate in the parade should call 412-461-0667.

By Stacy Lee, MCKEESPORT DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, December 1, 2010