Slippery Rock welcomes the holiday season through the annual Light Up Night event
SLIPPERY ROCK — A chilly rain Saturday, Nov. 23 was no match for the warmth of a community coming together at the annual Light Up Night event.
Despite the cold temperature and some rain, the streets were packed with eventgoers helping to ring in the holiday season. The event also saw the return of the North Country Express, a small train for children to ride up and down Main Street.
The event, held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and featured the Christmas Market — a large selection of games and vendors for children and adults alike. Main Street was closed to traffic between noon and 8 p.m.
Despite the street closure, many of the storefronts along Main Street were open for business and encouraged attendees to browse inside.
Branded Western Co., a new addition to Main Street, offered free wedding soup to passersby. Mary Kosek, the owner’s mother, was proud to be representing the business during its first major community event since its Nov. 1 opening.
“It’s so hard to establish a small business these days, but the community has been so welcoming,” Kosek said. “It’s nice to see such a small town that hosts so many events.”
The spirit of giving was strong throughout the event, as several vendors and stores offered free food and drink, such as hot chocolate and cookies. Other storefronts hosted donation points, such as a food drive collection at Rooster’s Coffee Bar.
The games offered to children and adults included a wheel spin, pegboard Plinko and a ball toss. Those who completed these games were able to join a raffle for holiday items and toys.
Attendee’s also were treated to live music from both the Slippery Rock Baptist Church carolers and the SRU Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble. They performed holiday classics that helped bolster a festive ambience.
The Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company hosted its own vendor stand that sold raffle tickets and French fries. Assistant Chief Kurt Reasner said the fire company’s attendance is an important fundraising opportunity and a time to build a connection with the community it serves.
“We’re always out here trying to engage with the community and fundraise.” Reasner said. “We also make sure to attend VillageFest, as they’re both great opportunities to sell raffle tickets,”
Santa Claus was in attendance from 4 p.m to 6 .pm. Children lined up to visit him to make sure he knew what they want for Christmas this year.
A few other wintertime friends were in attendance, such as Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, and Elsa and Annafrom “Frozen.” Eventgoers were encouraged to speak to and take pictures with them.
Members of the community believe that events such as Light Up Night help to differentiate Slippery Rock from the average college town. David Keppel, a professor at Slippery Rock University, remarked that events such as Light Up Night offered family-friendly activities for his own family to attend.
“One of the biggest reasons I stay in Slippery Rock is due to community events like these,” Keppel said. “My family and I get to have a nice night out with kid-appropriate activities.”
Light Up Night has become a cherished tradition for members of the community, regardless of whether they are passing through for their degree or have been lifelong residents. The Light Up Night for 2025 is not currently scheduled, but is expected to return next November.
