WEST CHESTER, PA — It’s time for the lights to ignite in downtown West Chester! Starting this Friday, visitors can sip, shop and dine amidst thousands of twinkling lights and a variety of holiday festivities.
It’s all part of six weekends of holiday magic, Thanksgiving through New Year’s, during Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester when golden lights and sparkling decorations illuminate the heart of historic West Chester.
“This is a hometown holiday experience that you won’t find anywhere else,” said Katie Walker, President of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, which organizes Lights Up events. “There’s a nostalgia that we are all feeling as we return to the people and places that are most important to us, and that’s what you’ll experience with your friends and family here in downtown West Chester.”
The fun kicks off on Black Friday when the West Chester Borough Balladeer Carolers will roam downtown from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. To celebrate Small Business Weekend in West Chester, Friday through Sunday, street-level metered parking will be free and retail stores will give away free, reusable shopping bags with any in-store purchase. Five of the bags will contain a ticket to redeem a $50 VISA gift card. Saturday’s activities include roaming carolers from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. sponsored by West Chester Downtown Foundation, as well as a free outdoor concert with The Uptown Singers! at 2 p.m. on the steps of the Historic Chester County Courthouse sponsored by Oakbourne Advisors with equipment provided by Taylor’s Music. That’s followed by Santa’s 3 p.m. cruise through the historic streets on a truck with First West Chester Fire Company, sponsored by Tolsdorf Oil Lube Express. Visitors can also tour West Chester’s professional gingerbread house competition and vote for their favorites at six downtown venues, sponsored by Delphi Wealth Management. WSFS Bank Toy Drive is underway with unwrapped toy collections at select WSFS locations and the Greater West Chester Chamber office.
Premium block sponsors of Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester include Benchmark Federal Credit Union, Oakbourne Advisors, Treehouse World, West Chester Business Improvement District, West Chester University and West Pharmaceuticals. Half block sponsors include CTDI, First Bank of NJ, Media One Products, My Benefit Advisor, PentaHealth, Rudloff Custom Builders and West Chester Dental Arts. Quarter block sponsors include Arthur Hall Insurance, BUSH Infiniti of West Chester, Dave’s Automotive Repair Enterprises, First Resource Bank, Gawthrop Greenwood – Attorneys at Law, La Difference Salon & Day Spa, MacElree Harvey, Ltd., M&T Bank, Northwestern Mutual, PECO, Pegasus Technologies, Penn Oaks Country Club and S&T Bank. In addition, nearly 70 businesses and organizations supported the event as Lamp Post sponsors.
For more information on weekend activities and to see a full list of sponsors, visit www.gwcc.org or contact the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce at 610-696-4046, info@gwcc.org.
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