Santa Claus is Parading Through Town

Christmas will come early to Hatboro as the borough's 53rd annual holiday parade makes its return on Sunday afternoon.

The two-hour extravaganza through Hatboro's downtown will be bigger and better than ever. So much in fact, that the Greater Hatboro Chamber of Commerce, the entity which puts on the roughly $15,000 community favorite, hopes two hours will be time enough to squeeze in nearly twice as many floats and string bands.

"We're at capacity," said Kathy Salemno, chamber volunteer and parade organizer. "We've had to cut it off."

In addition to having 25 floats instead of the typical 15, Salemno said this year's event will feature five string bands, up from the normal three bands of fancily clad musicians parading through town. 

The parade will also feature more than 100 marching units with approximately 5,000 participants, plus area emergency services groups, high school marching bands, military units, dance groups, youth and scouting groups, community organizations, area dignitaries and public officials.

And with the Candy Cane Cavalcade theme, there's sure to be no shortage of red and white throughout. 

Robert M. John, a former scoutmaster of Hatboro Troop 3 for 40 years, will serve as the parade's grand marshal. 

Other honored parade participants will include three distinguished World War II veterans who served in the China Burma India Theater, and at Pearl Harbor. Salemno said the veterans, who have participated in the Union Library of Hatboro's weekly War Stories speaker program, will be escorted in cars. 

"We're really excited to have them," she said. 

The Boy Scouts of America will be on hand collecting non-perishable food and personal items along the parade route to donate to Hatboro food pantries. Parade participants may bring their donations to the registration table.

The grand finale of the parade will be Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving in a horse-drawn carriage provided by Bucks County Carriages of New Hope. Children are invited to bring letters for Santa which will be collected by the United Parcel Service. 

And, speaking of Santa, kids and parents alike are invited to Gamburg's Furniture (101-107 S. York Road) during the parade to sit in the store's "big red chair," which Salemno referred to as the store's Santa chair. 

Santa, of course, will be busy riding in the parade, but families are welcome to come "get lost in" the huge chair and take photos, Salemno said. 

If you go

The Hatboro Holiday Parade, which is slated for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, will begin at Summit and York roads and travel southbound on York Road. A pre-parade featuring the Timoney Irish Dancers, Dixie Derby Square Dance Club and Suburban Dog Training Club will begin at 1:30 p.m. The parade will be held rain or shine.