November 22, 2023 • Bradford Publishing Company
Santa Claus Lane, Jingle Bell Jubilee return this holiday season By Bob Clark OLEAN — Olean’s business district is turning into a winter wonderland in preparation for special events this holiday season. Santa Claus Lane opens Nov. 24 along North Union Street with the annual parade and lighting by Santa and Mrs. Claus, followed by the Jingle Bell Jubilee Dec. 8. The lights will go on at the tail end of the Santa Claus Lane Parade, set for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 24 — Black Friday. 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; 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; Jingle Bells Award go to the best theatrical (music/dance) float or unit; The Rudolph Award for the float with the most or best use of lights; The Seasons Greetings Award to the best newcomer to the parade, and one that typ-
File Photo
Santa and Mrs. Claus wave from the city of Olean Fire Department fire truck during the 2022 Santa Claus Lane parade.
ifies a welcoming theme - this unit must be a firsttime entrant; and The Snowflake Award for 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.). This year’s Santa Claus Lane ornament, in a series created by artist Kathleen McDonald features Angee’s Restaurant. The ornaments are $25 and help support the cost of purchasing lights for
the business district. The Chamber announced Nov. 14 that George Pancio, a former Olean school administrator and inductee into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame, has been named posthumous grand marshal of the 2023 Santa Claus Lane parade. Pancio died Jan. 20 at the age of 88. His family, Chamber COO Meme Yanetsko said, will serve in his place at the head of the parade. Pancio 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
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