Greensburg Luminary Night offers holiday festivities, music on streets, at library, museum
Dec. 6—Seasonal music and festivities will highlight downtown Greensburg's 54th Luminary Night, set for 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Activities for all ages will await visitors along the luminary-lined streets of the city's business district.
"Everything is set for a fun-filled evening in the city, continuing the tradition of streets lined with luminaries and families enjoying the city," said Mary Wilmes, who is chairing the event organized by the nonprofit Greensburg Business and Professional Association. Wilmes owns Penelope's Gifts & More, among the stores that will be open for shoppers seeking holiday gifts.
With the completion this year of the reconstructed underground garage at the county courthouse, a live Nativity will return to the courthouse courtyard above the garage, at Main and Otterman streets.
A short walk north on Main Street, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art will host a preview of its Holiday Mart, also from 5 to 8 p.m., along with a Winter Lights display outside.
The museum will offer acoustic music, a cash bar featuring infused cocktails and a family-friendly gingerbread-themed art activity. Ten vendors will be on hand with wares for sale including jewelry, textiles, pottery and home decor. Children's author Sarah Lynn Kuchma will be reading and signing books.
Additional vendors will be set up at the museum for two more days of the holiday mart, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, check out the "Upcoming events" at
Thursday's Luminary Night will have attractions for kids at Greensburg's South Pennsylvania Avenue park — crafts provided by 4 The City Church and a mailbox where children who have been good can drop off their letters to Santa.
Two local troupes will present live performances: Westmoreland Performing Arts, at Pennsylvania Avenue and Pittsburgh Street, and Stage Right, on Second Street.
The evening coincides with a Winter Wonderland of programming at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, at Pennsylvania Avenue and Third Street.
The library's front porch will be the spot for entertainment by C.P. Music. Kids can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, explore fun activities and enjoy a free cookie and book.
Families can log on to the library event calendar at ghal.org to reserve a private sensory-friendly visit with Santa, co-hosted by Inclusive Connections, between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Thursday.
The library's Winter Wonderland also will include door prize drawings for completing an activity scavenger hunt, sales of Holly Jolly Jackpot tickets for chances to win cash or lottery tickets, a free photo booth, hot chocolate, games and crafts.
Visitors can view a display of wreaths created and donated by local residents as prizes in a raffle benefiting the library. The cost is $5 for 10 raffle tickets. Winners will be drawn and notified on Dec. 13.
Participants in the library's fall reading challenge and Beanstack program will find a secret code posted at Thursday's event that will help them earn chances for prizes. More information is available at ghal.org.
The library will be the departure point for horse-and-carriage rides that will be offered during Luminary Night.
Those who stroll past Penelope's at 101 S. Pennsylvania Ave. will notice a "dream window" full of new merchandise donated by local merchants for a charitable prize promotion. Tickets cost $5 for a chance to win all of the items, which have a combined value of nearly $2,000. Tickets can be purchased at participating Greensburg businesses or by visiting the Greensburg Business and Professional Association website: shopgreensburgpa.com.
The winner will be chosen during a Dec. 17 drawing. Proceeds will benefit nonprofit Feeding the Spirit, which provides meals weekly in Greensburg to those in need.
Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff by email at jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .
