Published December 21. 2022 01:41PM
by Ed Courrier Special to the Bethlehem Press
Hanover Township and Northampton County welcomed the Christmas Spirit with a tree lighting celebration at the Hanover Township Community Center, 3660 Jacksonville Road Dec. 2.
The well-attended free community event featured horse and carriage rides, kids’ crafts, hayrides, grilled hot dogs, roasted marshmallows, ice sculpture, DJ music and a “snowball” fight. Santa and the Grinch were available for photo ops.
A pair of reindeer was on hand from Bloomsburg-based SRF Reindeer. Although they didn’t perform any flying demonstrations, 1-year-old Topper and 6-month-old Mitzie allowed attendees to photograph and gently pet them.
Top-hatted Bethlehem Carriage Company owner Amanda Laky provided wagon and sleigh rides pulled by percheron draft horses from the Quarter K Ranch in Bath.
George Yanoshik, Kelsey Simms and Lanie Urbunski handed out electronic reflectors and other swag at the Patient First tent.
D.H. Productions DJs, Dan Wade and Korey Anakin filled the air with holiday hits.
Event sponsors included Wegmans, Fiamma, Embassy Bank, Colonial Regional Police Department, Stuffed Puffs, Traditions of Hanover, Hanover Township Community Center Special Events, and the Hanover Township Public Works.
Press photos by Ed Courrier A horse and carriage holiday decoration ‘gallops' by the large decorated tree outside the Hanover Township Community Center.
Artist Gabe Crouthamel from Sculpture Ice Works in Lakeville carves a reindeer from an ice block with a chainsaw.
D.H. Productions DJs, from left, Korey Anakin and Dan Wade played holiday hits at the community celebration.
From left, Kendra Gensel from SRF Reindeer gently guides 6-month-old Mitzie over to allow Isabella Ngqian and her friend Mary Heitzeman, pet her. The 12-year-olds live in Bethlehem.
Easton Rowohlt from Bath decorates a Christmas cookie with the assistance of 21-year-old Summer Bullsnake. The Temple University student is in her junior year majoring in event and entertainment management. Wegmans' Bethlehem store sponsored the hands-on activity.
From left, Korie Kalavoda and Ilise Wanamaker hold the pair of percheron draft horses hitched to a wagon. Kalavoda is the owner of the Bethlehem Carriage Company based out of Bath.
The Henshaw family spends time with Santa and Mrs. Claus. From left are Kali and Brody. Kali attends Asa Packer Preschool; her big brother goes to Asa Packer ES.
From left, Kaylei Regan, Tricia Milite and Kera Whipple pass out free hot dogs to those who wish to cook them on the charcoal grills behind them. Regan is a senior at Liberty. Milite and Whipple serve on the Hanover Township Special Events Committee.
Northampton County District Magistrate Vivian Zumas takes a break from a busy day to enjoy toasting a marshmallow.
PRESS PHOTO BY ED COURRIER Rocco LoConte hangs out with the Grinch for a family photo op. The 9-year-old is in fourth grade at Hanover ES.
