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WEST CHESTER, PA – October 19, 2026 – For the first time ever, the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce is recruiting marshals to walk in the West Chester Christmas Parade as an estimated 20,000 people gather for the region’s most popular hometown holiday parade title sponsored by Chester County Hospital on Friday, December 4th. “We have always relied on our volunteer parade marshals to assist with staging and spectator support on sidewalks, but this is the first year we are opening this experience to marshals who will walk in the parade alongside our spectacular floats, VIPs and marching bands,” said Laurie Ryan, President of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce. “It’s sure to be an unforgettable experience for individuals as well as businesses looking to build camaraderie within their organizations.” Ryan says that in addition to the parade’s usual 70 marshals, about 30 marshals will be added to march within the parade and assist performers and floats with maintaining consistent flow throughout the parade route. The parade and preceding tree lighting kick off Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester, now in its sixth year and featuring 100,000 twinkling lights on professionally decorated blocks throughout downtown West Chester during 6 weekends of holiday fun from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. “Chester County Hospital is proud to once again support the West Chester Christmas Parade, a cherished tradition that brings our community together during the holiday season,” said Karen Pinsky, MD, CEO of Chester County Hospital. “This year, we are especially honored to recognize our Employees of the Month as part of this special community event. Their compassion, dedication, and commitment to excellence make a difference in the lives of our patients and families every day. We are proud to celebrate them while helping create a memorable experience for our community.” Volunteers will cover the eight-block parade route as the marching begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 4th after West Chester’s Tree Lighting at 6:30 p.m. in front of the historic Chester County Courthouse. Wearing fuzzy red hats donated by West Pharmaceutical Services and an official Lights Up Yellow Vest, parade marshals also vote as the Greater West Chester Chamber determines winners of the parade’s “Best Non-Profit Entry,” “Best Commercial Entry” and Best High School Marching Band.” Additional volunteers are needed to help with setup and breakdown of the main stage area before and after the parade. Sign-ups are at https://www.greaterwestchester.com/lightsupchristmasparade.html Registered volunteers will receive emails in mid- to late November providing instructions on where and when to report on the day of the parade. It all culminates with the much-anticipated arrival of Santa, and the return of parade emcees 6abc Meteorologist Adam Joseph and B101 Radio Host Kathy Romano of The Kathy Romano Show.Premium block sponsors include Brandywine Valley Heating & Air Conditioning, Del Vacchio Landscapes & Christmas Décor, Aqua PA/Essential Utilities and West Pharmaceutical Services. Half-block sponsors include Cabinet IQ of West Chester & Main Line, CTDI, Fred Beans Ford of West Chester, Howell Engineering and Scott Auto Group/Scott Honda of West Chester. Quarter-block sponsors include 9 Prime, AFC Urgent Care West Chester; Arthur Hall Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Insurance Agency, LLC; BeautyMark West Chester, Bentley Systems, Burke & Herbert Bank, Dave’s Automotive Repair Enterprises, First Resource Bank, FPA Wealth Management, Gawthrop Greenwood - Attorneys at Law, Giunta’s West Chester, John Serock Catering, La Difference Salon & Day Spa, MacElree Harvey, Millers Insurance Agency, Pegasus Technologies, Pietro’s Prime, Rothwell Document Solutions, Station 142 x Saloon 151 and The Golf Zone Family Fun Center, with special sponsor PECO.This year’s Christmas Tree is sponsored by Key Financial, Inc., and Santa’s float is once again sponsored by Lamb McErlane PC and Treehouse Group. Parade special element sponsors include Sheller Energy. The VIP area is sponsored by Alexander Catering, Café Gourmino and The Master’s Baker. Media sponsors include Main Line Today and VISTA Today. Parade support sponsors include A.J. Blosenski and JDog Junk Removal. Blue Dog Printing & Design is the print sponsor, and parade night technology sponsor is Massive Dynamic.As Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester unfolds throughout the holiday season, photos with Santa are sponsored by M&T Bank, the Toy Drive Breakfast is sponsored by WSFS, Santa on a Fire Truck is sponsored by Tolsdorf Oil Lube Express, the holiday concert is provided by West Chester Music Academy, and caroling is provided by West Chester Downtown Foundation.To see a full list of those sponsoring Lights Up and for more information, visit https://www.greaterwestchester.com/lightsupchristmasparade.html or contact the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce at 610-696-4046, info@gwcc.org. About the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce:The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, located in the heart of Chester County, PA, is a membership based not-for-profit organization providing resources, advocacy and educational opportunities to help local businesses and entrepreneurs build relationships, promote their business, grow their network, address their most serious business challenges and become an integral part of the community. www.GreaterWestChester.com Media Contact: Kristen Stewart, BTC Marketing, kstewart@btcmarketing.com, 215-508-3004 (cell)
WEST CHESTER, PA – October 19, 2026 – For the first time ever, the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce is recruiting marshals to walk in the West Chester Christmas Parade as an estimated 20,000 people gather for the region’s most popular hometown holiday parade title sponsored by Chester County Hospital on Friday, December 4th.
“We have always relied on our volunteer parade marshals to assist with staging and spectator support on sidewalks, but this is the first year we are opening this experience to marshals who will walk in the parade alongside our spectacular floats, VIPs and marching bands,” said Laurie Ryan, President of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce. “It’s sure to be an unforgettable experience for individuals as well as businesses looking to build camaraderie within their organizations.”
Ryan says that in addition to the parade’s usual 70 marshals, about 30 marshals will be added to march within the parade and assist performers and floats with maintaining consistent flow throughout the parade route.
The parade and preceding tree lighting kick off Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester, now in its sixth year and featuring 100,000 twinkling lights on professionally decorated blocks throughout downtown West Chester during 6 weekends of holiday fun from Thanksgiving through New Year’s.
“Chester County Hospital is proud to once again support the West Chester Christmas Parade, a cherished tradition that brings our community together during the holiday season,” said Karen Pinsky, MD, CEO of Chester County Hospital. “This year, we are especially honored to recognize our Employees of the Month as part of this special community event. Their compassion, dedication, and commitment to excellence make a difference in the lives of our patients and families every day. We are proud to celebrate them while helping create a memorable experience for our community.”
Volunteers will cover the eight-block parade route as the marching begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 4th after West Chester’s Tree Lighting at 6:30 p.m. in front of the historic Chester County Courthouse. Wearing fuzzy red hats donated by West Pharmaceutical Services and an official Lights Up Yellow Vest, parade marshals also vote as the Greater West Chester Chamber determines winners of the parade’s “Best Non-Profit Entry,” “Best Commercial Entry” and Best High School Marching Band.” Additional volunteers are needed to help with setup and breakdown of the main stage area before and after the parade. Sign-ups are at https://www.greaterwestchester.com/lightsupchristmasparade.html
Registered volunteers will receive emails in mid- to late November providing instructions on where and when to report on the day of the parade. It all culminates with the much-anticipated arrival of Santa, and the return of parade emcees 6abc Meteorologist Adam Joseph and B101 Radio Host Kathy Romano of The Kathy Romano Show.
Premium block sponsors include Brandywine Valley Heating & Air Conditioning, Del Vacchio Landscapes & Christmas Décor, Aqua PA/Essential Utilities and West Pharmaceutical Services. Half-block sponsors include Cabinet IQ of West Chester & Main Line, CTDI, Fred Beans Ford of West Chester, Howell Engineering and Scott Auto Group/Scott Honda of West Chester. Quarter-block sponsors include 9 Prime, AFC Urgent Care West Chester; Arthur Hall Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Insurance Agency, LLC; BeautyMark West Chester, Bentley Systems, Burke & Herbert Bank, Dave’s Automotive Repair Enterprises, First Resource Bank, FPA Wealth Management, Gawthrop Greenwood - Attorneys at Law, Giunta’s West Chester, John Serock Catering, La Difference Salon & Day Spa, MacElree Harvey, Millers Insurance Agency, Pegasus Technologies, Pietro’s Prime, Rothwell Document Solutions, Station 142 x Saloon 151 and The Golf Zone Family Fun Center, with special sponsor PECO.
This year’s Christmas Tree is sponsored by Key Financial, Inc., and Santa’s float is once again sponsored by Lamb McErlane PC and Treehouse Group. Parade special element sponsors include Sheller Energy. The VIP area is sponsored by Alexander Catering, Café Gourmino and The Master’s Baker. Media sponsors include Main Line Today and VISTA Today. Parade support sponsors include A.J. Blosenski and JDog Junk Removal. Blue Dog Printing & Design is the print sponsor, and parade night technology sponsor is Massive Dynamic.
As Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester unfolds throughout the holiday season, photos with Santa are sponsored by M&T Bank, the Toy Drive Breakfast is sponsored by WSFS, Santa on a Fire Truck is sponsored by Tolsdorf Oil Lube Express, the holiday concert is provided by West Chester Music Academy, and caroling is provided by West Chester Downtown Foundation.
To see a full list of those sponsoring Lights Up and for more information, visit https://www.greaterwestchester.com/lightsupchristmasparade.html or contact the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce at 610-696-4046, info@gwcc.org.
About the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, located in the heart of Chester County, PA, is a membership based not-for-profit organization providing resources, advocacy and educational opportunities to help local businesses and entrepreneurs build relationships, promote their business, grow their network, address their most serious business challenges and become an integral part of the community. www.GreaterWestChester.com
Media Contact:
Kristen Stewart, BTC Marketing, kstewart@btcmarketing.com, 215-508-3004 (cell)