Light Up Night Parade in Downtown Irwin, PA

Irwin PA Annual Light Up Night Parade - Light Up Norwin

Last night, our little town stood fast & hosted their annual Light Up Night parade. While every single community around us canceled their usual Christmas-welcoming festivities – our town decided that the people of Norwin needed something normal, and so, in the face of opposition, they pressed on.

Any other year, this event draws (on average) 10,000 people to the streets of Downtown Irwin. There are typically food trucks and vendors selling balloons & light up necklaces. There are usually performances in several different locations along Main Street – choirs singing, kids dancing, & bands playing Christmas music. The businesses & restaurants of Downtown Irwin are routinely bursting with people – as everyone waits for the count-down to light the Christmas Tree & the parade that follows. And this isn’t your normal “little” parade either – it frequently can last up to 90 minutes with all the floats, fire trucks, marching bands, and groups marching along the parade route.

Last night was different though. Even though it was a beautiful, warm evening (which would typically signal an exceptionally large crowd would be present) the crowd was light. (I would estimate about 50% of the usual crowd was there). There were a few food trucks, but no performances. A lot of the businesses along Main Street were closed. For the most part, people were doing their best to stand socially distant from others, while wearing masks. And the parade was only about 30 minutes long with no marching bands and less than half the number of groups & floats.

Regardless – the atmosphere was festive! People were excited to do something so “normal” in a sea of events & gatherings being canceled. Sure, it wasn’t our “usual” Light Up Night, but it was still amazing. It felt so good to welcome in the holiday season with something “normal” – Light Up Night.