The Christmas lights are twinkling in Clarion, but the hustle and bustle in preparation of the season is missing.
Many of the traditional events have been canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. That includes the anticipated arrival of Santa Claus. In previous years, he arrived on top of a Clarion Fire and Hose Company firetruck.
“This year we just couldn’t do it,” said Tracy Becker, executive director of the Clarion Area Chamber of Commerce.
Charity organizations will continue to provide gifts for the needy this season, but for many the format will be different. Pennies from Heaven, for example, will conduct a drive-through giving on Dec. 10 at Zion Church, located at 114 Zion Road in Clarion.
Schools normally present holiday concerts, but many have gone to remote learning, which makes that impossible. Some schools, like Clarion-Limestone, are trying to present virtual concerts.
Even the tall evergreen tree in Veterans Park will be dark this year, but not due to the pandemic.
“The tree we have been decorating in the park is sort of a Charlie Brown tree. It is getting so high we had to put scaffolding up last year to decorate it,” Clarion County Commissioner Ted Tharan said.
Instead, the county has placed a 12-foot Christmas tree in the gazebo at Veterans Park.
“We are also getting a 12-foot tree for in front of the courthouse. It is cut and waiting to be put up,” Tharan said.
Missing in recent years are the small candles in the courthouse windows.
“I talked to the judge (Sarah Seidle-Patton) about that last week,” Tharan said. “The reason they stopped using those several years ago was because it was a fire hazard. They were running little brown extension cords all through the building.
“I think we may go to battery-powered candles. We will have to get a boatload of them, though. If we can get them before Christmas, we will put them up.”
Becker said a group of local merchants is trying to keep sprits bright by placing illuminated snowflakes on the streetlight poles.
“There may also be a special visitor in one of the Main Street stores,” she said.