38th Annual Santa Claus Lane Parade
38th Annual Santa Claus Lane Parade
GOACC Announce this Year’s Parade Grand Marshall Posthumously
Picture from OTH -- Dec 23, 2016-- George Pancio (far right) dresses as Santa Claus, while his grandchildren (from left) Olivia Buck and Caroline Haddock dress as elves and his daughter Paula Buck dresses as Mrs. Claus, during a meet-and-greet with Santa Friday night on Pancio Lane. The Pancio family greeted children and parents as they drove past their home in what was a return of an Olean tradition after more than two decades. Photos / Greater Olean Area Chamber
OLEAN - As the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates the 38th Annual Santa Claus Lane Parade in two weeks, staff reminisce on who has been the grand marshal of their celebratory holiday parade. “The Chamber has asked those student athlete teams / individuals to be the grand marshal of the parade - Portville Central Girls Volleyball (several times), Ellicottville Central Girls Volleyball, Salamanca High Girls Volleyball, swimmers from the Portville/Olean Girls teams; and even local celebrities such as last year, Eric Jones (West Clarksville) for winning Food Network’s “Outrageous Pumpkins” show,” reported Meme K. Yanetsko, GOACC COO.
At this year’s organizational meeting for the parade held in April, Meme suggested the idea of having George Pancio’s family be this year’s grand marshal. And they have accepted.
George Pancio was Olean’s Santa who helped the real Santa with the New York City’s Macy’s Day Parade and many of Olean’s own parades. Mr. Pancio passed away January 20, 2023.
George began performing as Santa in the late 1950s and was a protégé of Charles W. Howard in the 1960s. He assumed the role as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Santa in 1966. For a decade, George represented Macy’s as their official spokes-Santa. He also appeared on numerous television programs such as Good Morning America, the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and Gene Rayburn’s Hell of a Town.
For a decade, George spent 50 nights on his Main Street roof with a sleigh and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer each winter to the joy of the families of the community. Last year, George was able to see his son, Steve recreate this Rooftop with Santa, with George’s grandson, Steve back on Main Street on the younger Steve’s house in Olean!
“The weather was so discouraging that evening, we were going to reschedule/cancel, but we’re glad that we went on with the show, as Dad was able to enjoy his family carrying on this tradition of Santa on the Rooftop!” added George’s son, Steve Pancio.
This year’s Santa Claus Lane Parade will be held Friday, November 24th starting at 6:30pm at Delaware Avenue and will head south on both sides of Union Street to State Street.
In 2010, the inaugural class of Santa Claus Hall of Fame was presented by the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame. George Pancio received this designated in 2020. What is the criteria, you ask? Overall career, service to their community, range of appearances, contribution to the Santa world, length of service, uniqueness of career, originality and charity.
Nominations come from several sources including Santa communities where thousands of professional Santas, Mrs. Clauses, and helpers from around the world are members. Profiles of candidates are distributed to a panel of 15. Profiles are reviewed with a point value in each standard. The top 21-point value profiles are submitted for a 1 through 21 percentage vote. Those Candidates who received 75% are elected to the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame.
“I was very impressed with this designation of George’s,” said Mrs. Yanetsko. “To think someone from our town is recognized not only for him being Santa but for all he did for our community and residents internationally is outstanding."
Mr. Pancio was also the final Santa to visit Virginia O’Hanlon Douglas of the famous, “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” newspaper editorial, not long before she passed away (1971).
“From what I remember, she was dying in the hospital, and they wanted her to have one last visit from Santa Claus,” Mr. Pancio told the Times Herald. “Macy’s flew me down there to see her. They drove me in a limo to get to the hospital.”
Although there is no official deadline for Santa Claus Lane Parade applications, GOACC urges all participants to get the information into the Chamber office by November 20th. All parade participants must have a waiver signed and Chamber officials ask that all waivers be handed in by November 24th to the office at 301 North Union Street or at the parade.
GOACC is encouraging organizations to participate in these other Thanksgiving week events:
• Thursday, November 23rd: Twin Tiers Striders Turkey Trot
Saturday, November 25th: Both Portville and Allegany will host their Holiday Celebrations. Plus Portville will have a parade through the village to Pioneer Park.
Small Business Saturday will also be held Saturday throughout the area.
For more information regarding Santa Claus Lane or other Greater Olean Area events and activities, please call 716-372-4433 or email info@oleanny.com.