West Chester Welcomes Christmas

On Friday, December 5, West Chester held its Hometown Christmas Parade, hosted by the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce. The parade is Chester County’s flagship hometown holiday event and attracts over 20,000 attendees of all ages. The rain-or-shine celebration experienced light snow flurries towards the end, adding to the Christmas spirit. The parade featured many fan-favorite performers, award-winning floats, and performances, creating an unforgettable family experience to bring the community together to celebrate the holiday season.

The night of festivities kicked off with the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, hosted by the parade emcees, 6ABC meteorologist Adam Joseph and B101’s Kathy Romano. The parade sponsor also lit the 28-foot Christmas tree. Following the tree lighting ceremony, the parade began and featured a variety of Chester County’s favorite performances and newcomers.

By popular demand, marching bands made larger appearances in this year's parade, including bands from Oxford High School, Downingtown, and Coatesville. The Bishop Shannahan Dance Team, Salesinum, and Caravel Academy performed a combined piece, along with other groups such as the West Chester University Marching Band. The parade ended with a traditional visit from Santa Claus.

The event introduced a new tradition: a competition for “Best Commercial Parade Float” and “Best Nonprofit Parade Entry.” Many colorful holiday-themed floats were spotted, including moving inflatable displays, Christmas-decorated trucks, Philadelphia Eagles party buses, and an Eagles-themed float with cheerleaders and viral content creator, “PhillySportsGuy.” Additionally, the event featured Irish musical performers, color guard performances, cheerleading teams, and local company sponsors, including Chester County's Penn Medicine Hospital.

West Chester’s 2025 Christmas parade ultimately showed how the community comes together to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Creativity and pride were shown throughout the night as traditions were kept alive and new ideas, like parade float competitions, were embraced. As the night came to an end, the parade left the community with hometown spirit that carries into the holiday season.