It Might Be October But Here Comes… Santa Claus?
It Might Be October But Here Comes… Santa Claus?
It’s Not to Early to Begin Planning Your GOACC Christmas Parade Float
Photos / Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce
OLEAN - Here comes Santa Claus! Here comes Santa Claus! Right down Santa Claus Lane! Santa Claus Lane has become six weeks of “celebration and song,” throughout the Olean community. The greater Olean area is a well-diversified community and as such, people from all walks of life and religion attend the parade to celebrate the gifts and graces of the holiday seasons. It is truly a night when the community comes together.
The Santa Claus Lane Parade is always the highlight of the holiday season, attracting loads of people of all ages to downtown Olean. This year the parade will be held on Friday, November 24th in downtown Olean beginning at 6:30pm. The Santa Claus Lane committee encourages area organizations and businesses to participate in the parade with a float, send in a musical unit, or display historical/public vehicles in the parade.
It’s not too early to starting planning your float! The parade will begin at Delaware Avenue and North Union Street and proceed south on North Union. Santa and Mrs. Claus will have their traditional countdown of the lights coming on at the intersection of State and Union.
Eight awards will be presented in the following categories:
The Elves Award will go to the float or unit that best typifies the holiday through the eyes of a child.
The Angelic Spirit Award will go to the most spiritual/religious float or unit.
The Blitzen Award will go to the most photogenic float or unit.
The Jingle Bells Award will go to the best theatrical (music/dance) float or unit
The Rudolph Award will go to the float with the most or best use of lights
The Seasons Greetings Award will go to the best newcomer to the parade, and one that typifies a welcoming theme. (This unit must be a first-time entrant.)
The Snowflake Award will go to the unit with the most participants in the parade.
The Sleigh Award will go to the most decorated larger truck - fire truck, flatbed, utility vehicles, etc.
To participate in the parade, you’ll simply need to print and fill out an application form that can be found online via the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce’s website, www.oleanny.com or by calling the Chamber office at 716-372-4433.
SANTA CLAUS LANE ORNAMENT
The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce recently unveiled its newest Santa Claus Lane ornament - a depiction of the Angee’s Restaurant, Olean, NY. Through these ornament sales, holiday lights are funded and can be lit in Olean from November to early January. The ornaments, in a series created by artist Kathleen McDonald, are $25.00 each.
The new ornaments are available at the Chamber office at 301 North Union Street. Ornaments will also be sold at Angee’s and will be available through mid-July. Ornaments can also be shipped outside Olean for an additional $6 for shipping/handling charges per ornament.
Many of the previously made ornaments are still available with a limited inventory. These past ornaments are available at the Chamber office and can be purchased online at shop.oleanny.com.
OTHER HOLIDAY EVENTS
GOACC is also encouraging organizations to participate in these other Thanksgiving week events: Thursday, November 23rd - Twin Tiers Striders Turkey Trot; and Saturday, November 25th - both Portville and Allegany will host their Holiday Celebrations.
As GOACC considers North Union Street, Santa Claus Lane during the holiday season, it’s neat to note the origin of the song, "Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa Claus Lane.)" It is a Christmas song originally written and performed by Gene Autry, with music composed by Oakley Haldeman. Autry's original version was a Top-10 hit on the pop and country charts; the song would go on to be covered many times in the subsequent decades. Autry got the idea for the song after riding his horse in the 1946 Santa Claus Lane Parade (now the Hollywood Christmas Parade) in Los Angeles, during which crowds of spectators chanted, "Here comes Santa Claus". This inspired him to write a song that Haldeman set to music!
For more information regarding Santa Claus Lane or other Greater Olean Area events and activities, please call 716-372-4433 or email santa@oleanny.com.