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Chester County Press

Kennett Square rings in a new year

01/05/2016 01:21PM ● By Richard Gaw


By Richard L. Gaw, Staff Writer

There are certain number of annual events in southern Chester County whose popularity helps define the fabric of life here. Only one of them, however, comes complete with a 500-pound, stainless steel mushroom.

For the third consecutive year, downtown Kennett Square ushered in 2016 at its "Midnight in the Square," as hundreds of families and friends gathered for a full evening of events and activities.

Of course, the biggest star of the night was also the most illuminated. As the clock on the Genesis Building on State Street moved rapidly to midnight, Rich Nichols, the owner of Bob's Crane Service, began to lower the well-lit mushroom above the large crowd gathered around it at the corner of Union and State streets.

The evening also featured a laser light show, and a performance by the group The Funsters, who performed on an outdoor stage on South Union Street. Some guests enjoyed a heated tent nearby, where they tasted chili, mushroom soup and mac n' cheese, as well as wine from Flickerwood Wine Cellars and beer from the Kennett Brewing Company.

Just up the street at the Garage Community & Youth Center, Garage volunteers entertained youngsters with balloon sculptures and face painting, while couples, individuals and families struggled to find seatings at restaurants on State Street.

Jointly sponsored by the Kennett Area Restaurant and Merchants Association and the Mushroom Festival, the event was also sponsored by VP Electrical Contracting, Inc.; M & P Custom Design; and To-Jo Mushroom.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail [email protected].