The Downtown Glenside Foundation (DGF) is proud to announce that Winterfest is coming to town on Friday, December 2 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Wesley Plaza, just off of South Easton Road.
The evening will feature live holiday music, performances by the Cassidy Dancers and Cheltenham High School’s a capella groups Sons of Pitch and Up the Octave, tasty treats, and a visit from Santa, who will arrive on a chauffeured fire truck just after 6:00pm.
Winterfest is a culmination of activities occurring throughout the week, starting with Small Business Saturday on November 26. Saturday’s event is an opportunity for holiday shopping, dining, and a chance to support independently-owned shops, restaurants, and service providers.
This will be the first time in a few years that First Friday will be part of the celebration.
“It had traditionally been an evening event,” Kathy Phillips, community outreach coordinator for the DGF, said. “But in recent years it merged with, and took place on Small Business Saturday. This year, we decided to keep and celebrate some elements of Small Business Saturday on November 26, but also add back the popular First Friday evening event on December 2.”
“It’s such a lovely, intimate feeling on Wesley Plaza with the holiday lights and decorations. The community gathers to enjoy feeling of hot chocolate and cookies, sing some carols and welcome Santa. It’s magical,” she said.
Kathy said that the hope and goal of this month’s First Friday will be a return to First Fridays throughout the year.
“First Fridays had been a community favorite for a number of years but had, as happens sometimes, faded out. We’d love to see the tradition revitalized,” she said.
The DGF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster community and local businesses in order to support a vibrant Downtown Glenside. Among other things, the group is responsible for community engagement events during the year, including the spring Arts Festival, the Howl-O-Ween Pet Promenade, Winterfest, and partnering with Arcadia University for their annual Food Truck Festival.
“We want to support and create a more vibrant Glenside,” Kathy said.
For more details and updates, you can follow the Downtown Glenside Foundation on Facebook and Instagram (@downtownglenside). For more on everything the DGF does for our community, you can visit their website.
Like what you’re reading? Follow us on Facebook or sign up for GlensideLocal’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter below.