In order to kick off the holiday season, Souderton Connects hosts the annual Souderton Holiday Parade. The parade took place on Main and Broad Street on December 6 from 11-1 p.m.
Souderton Connects Manager Jessica Cimini said that the tradition of the parade helps to bring the community out.
“To see everyone line the streets, and all the companies come out, it just makes me happy to see it,” Cimini said. “The work goes on ahead of it, but to see a successful parade is really fun and enjoyable.”
For parade co-host Christina DiVergigelis, nostalgia plays a part in her enjoyment of the parade.
“I think it brings tradition,” DiVergigelis said, “and I think tradition is a great thing because it’s something people look forward to, and they make it part of their holiday season.”
According to Souderton Mayor and Souderton Area High School alumni Dan Yocum, one of the reasons the parade has continued throughout the years is because of Souderton’s “Hallmark town” qualities.
“It’s kind of an old-fashioned tradition that has died elsewhere,” Yocum said, “but our community still embraces it, and still gets out on the street and sees their neighbors, and kids get candy, and all your local organizations get represented.”
Yocum also said that having the parade begin the holiday season, with more holiday events taking place over the weekend, has helped keep the tradition alive.
“As Souderton grows and thrives, the parade and the holiday weekend in Souderton has also grown and become the next generation’s tradition,” Yocum said. “As the town rises, this whole event weekend has risen with it.”
DiVergigelis agrees that the tradition has continued to be something that the community works into their holiday season.
“I love [that] over the years the same families come out, and then you see their families growing, and then the new generation is coming out,” DiVergigelis said. “It’s just neat to see our community thriving in that way, that we can share this with each other.”
For Cimini, she sees how the parade “just keeps growing in creativity and people coming out to support” it every year.
According to parade co-host Scott Little, the amount of volunteers who participate in the parade help the parade come together. “Souderton Connects has the title for doing it, and the primary responsibility,” Little said, “but the police and the fire [departments] that have been doing this for 30 to 40 years. It wouldn’t come together without them.”
Souderton Marching Band Director Alicia Simpson said that participating in the holiday parade is a way for the band to give back to the community, while also showcasing what the band does.
“It’s really important for me for the band to do community service and to get ourselves out and support the community, because the community supports the band,” Simpson said.
Senior Lana Gribbin said she enjoys participating in the parade because of the variety it provides in the marching band season.
“We get to decorate our instruments and wear Santa hats [and] it’s nice to catch a break from playing the same stand tunes all year, and finally get some new music,” Gribbin said.