Mummers march at a previous undated Coatesville Christmas Parade.
COATESVILLE – In an effort to safeguard the attendees and participants of one of Coatesville’s most cherished events, the Coatesville Christmas Parade Committee has announced the cancellation of the 2020 parade, Monday.
The Parade Committee expressed disappointment for the community that this year’s parade is cancelled, but stressed the importance of keeping the community safe. “Our first and foremost goal at the parade is always the safety of our attendees and participants. With the situation being what it still is with Covid-19, we realize that the dynamics of a parade will just not be possible this year, given the amount of participation we usually have,” according to the committee.
Longtime committee member Greg DePedro, owner of The Coatesville Flower Shop, echoes this sentiment. “A lot goes into the planning of a community-oriented parade like Coatesville’s. Because we are truly a small-town parade with groups like the Boy Scouts, schools, dance academies, sports teams and civic organizations participating, the level of coordination is pretty intense. That’s why we needed to make our decision as early as possible, to alert not only our participants, but the many cherished attendees who look forward to this event kicking off their holiday season each year.”
As well as the attendees and participants, the Coatesville Christmas Parade wishes to thank its steadfast sponsors each year for their commitment and dedication to the parade. Last year’s sponsors included Penn Medicine, PECO, Penn Medicine’s Chester County Hospital, Penn Medicine’s Lancaster General Health, Tower Health’s Brandywine Hospital, Coatesville Savings Bank, Wegman’s, Breuninger Insurance, Brandywine Health Foundation, PA American Water, Edge Wallboard Machinery, G.A. Vietri, Inc., ServPro of Kennett Square, Courtyard by Marriott (Phila. /Exton), James J. Terry Funeral Home, Inc., CTDI, Walgreens, Brian Hoskin’s Ford, United Steel Workers, The City of Coatesville, 3CTVLIVE.com, Herr’s, The Williams Group and many others.
Originally a community project in the 1950s, the parade was then taken up by the Jaycees back in the 70s and the Parade Committee in the 90s. Last year, over 150 entries graced the Lincoln Highway from dancers twirling their batons, to fleets of tow trucks, police cars and fire trucks, to local groups showing off their custom-crafted floats. The Coatesville Christmas Parade has it all. This year’s parade was to take place on Saturday, Dec. 5.
“But all is not lost,” adds DePedro. “We’d like to invite you to view sixteen years of past parades on our website — www.coatesvillechristmasparade.com — and catch all the things you may have missed standing outside on chilly Saturday mornings. Sit back on your couch, in the cozy warmth of your living room and enjoy the parades one more time. Plus, we have already started the planning for the 2O21 parade and I can tell you, it will be a real winner!”
For more information on this release, please contact Greg DePedro at 610-384-2677 or Melinda Williams, The Williams Group, at 61O. 518.4888. Please visit our website at www.coatesvillechristmasparade.com
