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Chester County Press

Celebrating the holidays in Kennett Square

11/09/2018 10:21AM ● By J. Chambless

The popular annual holiday light parade and tree lighting will take place on Friday, Nov. 23.

By Steven Hoffman
Staff Writer

From the moment the annual Holiday Light Parade begins on Nov. 23 to the moment Kennett Square welcomes the arrival of a new year with Midnight in the Square, the town is a wonderful place to enjoy the Christmas season.

Kennett Square is a terrific shopping destination year-round with unique shops like Bove Jewelers, Ashley Austin, Mamie Boutique, Holly Peters Oriental Rugs, and Kennett Square Jewelers. The shops in the downtown are really special during the holiday season when everyone is in search of special gifts that can’t be found anywhere else. There are also a number of art galleries on State Street, Broad Street, and Willow Street.

Kennett Square also boasts a wide variety of dining options, from La Michoacana Grill to Grain Craft + Kitchen to La Verona to Lily Asian Cuisine to Victory at Magnolia. The Market at Liberty Place has a number of places to enjoy food or drink, and there’s always something special going on during the holiday season.

Portabello’s of Kennett Square and Mrs. Robinson’s Tea Shop both expanded in the past year.

One of Kennett Square’s newest boutiques is Maura Grace, which recently debuted at the corner of State and Union streets. Maura Grace offers trendy apparel and gift items.

Kennett Square’s charm is on full display throughout the holiday season. The festivities begin with the popular annual holiday light parade and tree lighting will take place on Friday, Nov. 23. Santa will be greeting children at Anchor Life + Fitness on that evening.

For LaToya Myers, the parade and tree lighting signifies the arrival of the Christmas season. The Kennett Square Borough Council president grew up in Kennett Square and has always liked the holiday parade and tree lighting.

“When it’s time for the parade and the tree lighting, now it’s the holiday season for me,” Myers explained.

Karen Scherer, the borough secretary and assistant to the borough manager, said that the holiday parade and the tree lighting is her favorite event of the season, too, especially if one of her grandchildren is there with her to see the arrival of Santa Claus.

The next day, Saturday, Nov. 24, is Small Business Saturday. Shops throughout town will have special deals to celebrate the day.

Saturday, Nov. 24 is also the first time that the Christmas in Kennett shuttle will run between downtown Kennett Square and Longwood Gardens. Pick-ups take place from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and drop-offs will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. After Nov. 24, the Christmas in Kennett shuttle will run each subsequent Saturday through the holiday season: Dec. 1, Dec. 8, Dec. 15, Dec. 22, and Dec. 29.

The enormously popular Kennett Holiday Village Market returns on Saturday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 8 and Sunday, Dec. 9.

The Kennett Holiday Village Market is a curated, open air artisan market featuring unique holiday gift options from local and regional vendors. The Kennett Holiday Village Market includes food trucks, ice sculptures, seasonal craft workshops, live music, children’s crafts, Christmas tree and greenery sales and many one-of-a-kind gifts for the holidays. The Kennett Holiday Village Market is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Peter Waterkotte, a borough resident and member of Kennett Square Borough Council, said that the village market is one of his favorite holiday events because it has a real small-town feel.

“It’s a good event,” he said, explaining that his family enjoyed shopping from all the different vendors that take part in the Holiday Village Market.

The December First Friday Art Stroll takes place on Friday, Dec. 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Another highlight this holiday season will be the Brandywine Singers caroling through town from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24, Saturday, Dec. 1, and Saturday, Dec. 8.

A great way to enjoy Kennett Square’s charm is to take a holiday horse-drawn carriage ride. These rides are available from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2, Sunday, Dec. 9, Sunday, Dec. 16, and Sunday, Dec. 23. The cost is $5 per person.

Enjoy breakfast with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 16 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Kennett Fire Company No. 1 in the Red Clay Room.

Tinsel on the Town, featuring special vendors, luminaries, and music on the street and holiday shopping in the stores on Thursday, Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (State Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from Broad St. to Center St. for this event). This is a new event, and Waterkotte said that he thinks it is a good, new holiday offering. Tinsel on the Town will help bring more people to the businesses in the downtown.

Kennett Square will ring in the arrival of 2019 with the popular Midnight in the Square on Monday, Dec. 31.

Brenda Mercomes, a borough resident and council member, likes all the holiday activities—the parade, the collaboration with Longwood Gardens, the Midnight in the Square celebration.

“I like the small-town feel of these celebrations,” Mercomes said. “There is a very traditional feel to them. Christmas celebrations are important for a community.”

To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor @ chester county .com.