Helicopter brings Santa Claus in for high-flying Christmas kickoff in Shenandoah

SHENANDOAH – Windy conditions precluded Santa and his elves’ traditional entrance into the heart of the anthracite, but he still made quite a high-flying entrance. Literally.

“A little different, the wind is not cooperating,” Tom Twardzik, owner of Mrs. T’s Pierogies, told the Sentinel before Santa’s arrival. “That’s one of our biggest hang-ups is for parachutists to be able to safely come in, it’s got to be a calm wind and we are not having a calm wind at all.”

“We have alternatives. God bless LVHN and their MedEvac is going to bring Santa in,” Twardzik added. “Safety is a priority.”

Thanks to Lehigh Valley Health Network MedEvac, the jolly old elf himself flew into Shenandoah to help kickoff the Christmas season with a day of celebration in the borough.

Santa climbed aboard the helicopter typically used as Hazleton-based MedEvac 4, who shuttled him to Veterans Memorial Stadium on Shenandoah’s west end.

“We are blessed that they volunteered to be able to help us like this. It’s an incredible offer,” Twardzik said.

The tradition entered its 18th year of the Mrs. T’s-backed revival this year, Twardzik said.

Several hundred people packed the stadium, enjoying hot chocolate courtesy of the Shenandoah Valley High School Band Boosters and listening to Christmas tunes while they awaited Santa’s arrival.

Once at the football stadium, the man in red climbed aboard the Polish American Fire Company’s antique Seagrave fire engine and the Shenandoah Christmas Parade began, led by Shenandoah Police and the Shenandoah Valley Marching Band and with every fire company in the valley in tow.

The parade made its way up Centre Street, turning north onto Main Street in downtown Shenandoah. The marching band broke off a block early at Coal Street as Santa continued on, arriving at Shenandoah Borough Hall where a crowd gathered to meet and greet him.

The festivities continue in the borough in the evening with Coal Cracker Christmas.

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