GIRARDVILLE - The "gobble, gobble" of Thanksgiving changed to the "Ho! Ho! Ho!" of Christmas on Thursday in Girardville when Santa Claus made his traditional arrival on the holiday.
The Good Time Club of Girardville has sponsored the parade for more than 20 years, which begins at 5 p.m. The club also provides the borough's holiday street decorations, which are lighted green, red and yellow bells along most of Main Street.
The parade began at the west end of East Mahanoy Avenue, traveled east to Second Street, then to B Street, A Street, west on Ogden Street to Julia Street, then onto West Main Street, heading east until it reached the Girard Hose Company No. 1.
Council President Charles Marquardt said it's a great tradition having Santa arrive in the borough on Thanksgiving Day.
"It's great. Santa usually does the tree lighting, but we had some difficulty with the tree this year," Marquardt said. "The tradition has always been that he comes in with the fire trucks and we want to keep the tradition going."
The fire trucks traveled through the town with sirens blaring. Santa Claus stood in the back of the Girard Hose Company brush truck, waving to children along the route. One of Santa's faithful reindeer rode in a fire truck.
When the truck parade reached the fire company, Santa entered the building to visit with the children, while the reindeer with a big red nose stood outside to greet the children, parents and grandparents as they entered.
Santa sat in a special chair so children could sit on his lap. Behind him, a large, beautifully-decorated Christmas tree provided a backdrop for photos.
Club member Edna Labie assisted Santa by handing out plastic canes filled with chocolate candies. The first child to visit with Santa was 5-month-old Ireland Butler, Girardville.
Before the Good Time Club sponsored the parade, there was none, Labie said.
