Bristol Borough Christmas Parade 2021
by Cate Murway
The Bristol Borough Parade marches on after having been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Everyone professes to be excited about enjoying a superb afternoon of old-fashioned hometown holiday celebration in Historic Bristol on the Delaware on Saturday, November 27th [rain date November 28th].
All are invited to stake-out their spot early, line the streets, sit on the curbs, bring their own lawn chairs, and gather with their family and chat with their friends to watch an organized procession of festive participants, and to hear an amazing variety of fabulous music while gazing at enchantingly-decorative themed-floats. The Parade starts at 1:00PM.
This ever-popular Borough parade, for over 55+ years now, always rekindles happy and positive recollections. There is something powerful about the cheerful noise, the sea of smiling faces, and the vibrant colors that make this event unlike any others.
The hearty laughter you will hear is truly contagious!
Home town parades are a wonderfully magical part of the holidays, featuring mobile live performances, elaborate floats, irresistible animals, commanding marching units and high school bands, bedecked vehicles, and tempting food, and imaginative craft vendors.
The Borough Fire department, ambulance squads, and police all join in this celebration.
As always, Ronald Philip “Ron” Deangelis, BHS ’71, retired AQUA water plant operator/ lifelong member of the Bristol Consolidated Volunteer Fire Company, will offer his services as the deputy coordinator of emergency management.
Parade coordinators, Ellen Jane [Thomas] Scancella, BHS class of ‘84, along with her sister, Cindy Morales and their friend, the parade Honorary Marshall, Denise “Nisey” Karen [Northrop] Smith, BHS ’72, encourage responsible, great fun for the entire family while celebrating.
Ellen has been a dedicated co-planner for over 20 years. She has been totally committed to recruiting the parade participants and sponsors, as well as a plethora of food, soft drinks/ sports drinks / water and pretzel vendors.
The William Penn Bank will be an exclusive sponsor.
Donna Albright will piece together this masterpiece when the parade lineup begins at Simon and Shuster, 2207 Radcliffe Street that helps bring the holiday season to life!
The Bracken Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, the Bristol Elks #970 Lodge, the John Billington VFW Post #6495 from Levittown, the Truman HS color guard and competitive band, the all volunteer Mummer-tradition Aqua String Band from Philadelphia, the Jeep Club OffRoad Anthem, and the Lulu Shriners will provide unrivaled energy with commanding sounds for entertainment.
The most prominent values-based Bristol BSA Cub Pack #120 and Levittown Pack #102 will be collecting non perishable foods to help assist those less fortunate. Den Leader Eric Sokalski and his k-5th grade scouts who meet in the Emilie Methodist Church will be “scouting for food” as they are walking in the parade.
“A Scout is Helpful. Scouting is a great organization that teaches leadership instead of just following others, along with outdoor skills, and promotes and provides community service. Please bring a can of food or a whole bag to the parade and hand them off to us so we can continue to help others,” added Eric. Cub Scout Pack #180 from Croydon will also be strutting on Saturday.
Stepping Stone Dance Studio located in the spacious Grundy Commons on Canal Street will FLOAT in with their 70-80 elite accomplished dancers and participants of their “Nightmare Before Christmas”. Each of the dance teams, Petite, Junior, and Senior will perform for about a minute each. This holiday show will be presented in entirety at the Bristol Riverside Theatre January 7th & 8th.
The Pennwood Middle School cheerleaders, the BHS Middle school field hockey team, the Vanzant Dance Academy from Levittown, and the P.R.C.A.B.C. Puerto Rican dancers will also be showcasing and marching in the parade.
This year, ‘The Committee to Secure Bristol’s Future’ wants to actively thank everyone who has so unselfishly supported them.
Ralph DiGuiseppe, President of the Bristol Borough council / President of the Bucks County Rescue Squad/ and Treasurer of this committee that was started 20 years ago, has shared that “we are providing a flatbed with music; a 3-part harmony female group out of NY to perform.”
Tre Bella includes a vocalist, JoAnn Robertozzi, a songwriter, Lorraine Ferro, and a soulful singer, Rosie De Sanctis.
Lynch Collison Center, owned by James Anthony “Jimmy” Daniels, is donating the usage of two rollback flatbed-style tow trucks that will be used to transport Tre Bella, and one for the BHS football team.
Grand Marshall Amelia “Amy” McIlvaine is bring honored for her admirable, proficient, and altruistic work with the Advisory Oversight Committee [AOC] filling gaps and providing programs for the Borough schools.
One of their most recent successful supports provided for Microsoft certification in partnership with BCCC for BHS students in grades 10, 11, & 12. Those successfully completing the exam will be awarded a certificate and a medal to portray on their student profiles.
In January through May this opportunity will be repeated for Excel programs.
An AOC $7.000 funding has been provided for a BHS maker space, and an additional $5.000 has been awarded for a Pre-K Leap Frog element of academia for St. Mark School. The AOC also funds the BRT ArtRageous grant for grades K-2, introducing the students to musical theatre, hip hop dance and the performance arts at Snyder-Girotti Elementary School from September 2021- June 2022.
Pennsylvania Magisterial District judge for Bucks County, the Honorable Frank W. Peranteau, Sr. will once again announce the pageantry and grandeur as the Master of Ceremonies.
Meet Miss Historic Bristol Borough!
Sarah Jayne Hughes, Nazareth Academy ’15, in her crown and sash, is the former Miss Bucks County 2015 & 2019 who has participated in the parade since 2015. Sarah is the youngest of 4 born to Terry and Liz Hughes in Fairless Hills, and she graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Strategic Communications with a focus on Public Relations. She currently works at the Fox Chase Cancer Center as their publications editorial assistant for both “Forward”, the hospital magazine, and for their Annual Report “Prevail”.
Sarah competed for Miss PA in York, PA with a lyrical dance to “Rescue”, choreographed by Dana Stone, the proprietor of Stepping Stone Dance Studio, where she teaches ballet, tap, hip hop, and jazz to the 4&5 year old classes.
“Sarah embodies the qualities of a role model that young women and girls should have,” said Cristina Elena Guzman, president of the Miss Bucks County, Miss Montgomery County and Miss Liberty Bell Scholarship Organizations.
The annual tree lighting will take place on Black Friday, November 26th.
Thanks to the Crew and Jim’s Tree Service, and especially to the Pham family for their very generous donation of the incredibly beautiful pine tree with the generously layered branches that once adorned their Bensalem front lawn property.
Former Borough resident, Jacquel Anne [Nelson], her husband, Stephen Michael “Steve” Pham and their two children have endured a most challenging year with Jacquel’s cancer diagnosis.
“I want to offer this as a sincere thank you for the many who have been so very kind to me and my family, and for their many prayers.”
The tree has arrived and it’s a beauty!
The Bristol Borough Parade is Saturday, November 27, 2021 starting at 1:00 PM [*rain date; Sunday, November 28 2021 at 1:00 PM].
All Vendors are welcome and must register at 2207 Radcliffe Street, between 10:00AM-Noon.
Vendor fee is $25.00 per each permit.
Share a pretzel, sip a refreshing drink, and check out the amazing venues.
Count the memories, NOT the calories….
Snack on chocolate chip, blueberry, and orange-cranberry mini muffins, cookies, and buttery rich raspberry linzer tarts. Angelina's Bake Shop, 312 Mill Street is the ideal breakfast and lunch spot.
Stop in and try their delicious avocado toast!
Stock up for the holidays with Bristol’s own creations! Bristol Borough has a lot!
This Christmas, before you head to a mall or fire up the laptop for Amazon, why not consider supporting Bristol's local businesses? There are gift cards to restaurants, retail shops, hair and nail salons, art or yoga lessons, theater tickets, and jewelry selections.
Help support the businesses that pay taxes in town, hire Bristol employees, and donate to their teams.
Let's make this a Merry and Prosperous Christmas, and let’s hope this season brings a return to peace, kindness and civility.
So, grab the whole family, your friends, your lawn chair, and your imagination, and line up before 1:00 PM along Pond Street. Find your place among the crowd, and enjoy.
The holiday parade is coming to town and you don't want to miss it!
The Borough Parade Committee will also be announcing FINAL CALL for Santa letters to the North Pole!
Recommend a “Spotlight”. E-mail vjmrun@yahoo.com
the Pham fam tree
Bristol Pilot December 5, 1991
