Scene in Easton: Peace Candle Lights the Night for the Holiday Season

By Christina Georgiou

The Easton Peace Candle was lit for the first night of the
holiday season Friday night.
Click on any photo for a full size view.

Despite frigid temperatures, thousands turned out for the annual Easton Peace Candle lighting Friday night.

The switch was pulled by Abigail and  Amelia Faulkner, accompanied by their mother Tara. The three shared the "Illuminator" title, which was won in the annual eBay auction for $610 by Tom Lutes, a Downtown resident and local business owner. Lutes bestowed the honor on the three, who are the wife and daughters of his friend, Carl Faulkner,an Easton Police Department motorcycle officer.

Sandra O'Brien-Werner, who headed the Easton Holiday Committee, which planned the Peace Candle lighting for years before the event was taken over by the Easton Main Street Initiative, was named this year's recipient of the Gretchen Wrenshaw Community Spirit Award.

Mayor Sal Panto praised O'Brien-Werner, noting that the Holiday Committee had raised nearly half of the $25,000 needed for recent Peace Candle renovations and maintenance.

Mayor Sal Panto offers the switch for Amelia and Abigail
Faulker to pull, as their mother, Tara, behind them, looks on.

Volunteers at the First UCC on North Third Street hand out
hot cocoa and cookies at their open house during the
Peace Candle lighting event Friday evening.

Numerous shops stayed open late for the event, and event attendees enjoyed a number of seasonal activities, including a trackless train and horse drawn carriage rides, as well as a holiday parade that included the arrival of Santa Claus.

Homemade cookies and coffee and hot chocolate were a hit at the First UCC open house, as chilly attendees stopped by to warm up and view the historic church.

Two other churches, St. John's Lutheran and Cornerstone Church, had tents in Centre Square where children did crafts and made tree ornaments.

A petting zoo also amused kids and their parents, while musicians from the Easton Area High School Brass Ensemble, Easton Municipal Band, and Tuba Christmas entertained the enthusiastic crowd with seasonal songs.

Sandra O'Brien-Werner accepts the Gretchen Wrenshaw
Community Spirit Award.

Ice carving was also part of the event.

Weekend Guide, November 29 to December 1

In between the shopping frenzies, you deserve a bit of holiday fun...

Friday, November 29

Annual Holiday Open House: All day. In honor of the holidays, admission is just $2 per person. Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St. www.sigalmuseum.org
 
Easton Peace Candle Ceremony: 5 to 9 p.m. See the candle lit for the first time of the holiday season.  Numerous Downtown Easton shops will be open late, a parade will bring the official arrival of Santa Claus to the city at 7 p.m., and ice sculpting demonstrations, a craft show, kids' activities, live music, and horse-drawn carriage rides for a fee will also be part of the evening's entertainments. Centre Square and surrounding blocks. Click here for more details.

Holiday Art Affair: Begins 5 p.m. Lehigh Valley artists and food artisans including:  Emily Gartner, Ann Elizabeth Schlegel, Freckle Face Fudge, Mary Ann Riker, Mary Mulder, Bob Schantz and Brian Wiles, with live music and more. The Grand Eastonian Suites Hotel, 140 Northampton St. 484-597-6663

Candle Lighting Open House: Begins at 6 p.m. Refreshments, activities, hot cocoa, Christmas stories for the kids and more! First United Church of Christ of Easton, 27 North 3rd St.

Electric Gumbo, DJ Menson: Band at 7 p.m., DJ at 10 p.m. Rivals Sports Bar & Nightclub, 5 Lehns Court. 610-923-7625 or www.rivalseaston.com

Sal Ritz & Joe Mixon: 8 p.m. The Riegelsville Inn, 12 Delaware Road, Riegelsville. 610-749-0100 or www.riegelsvilleinn.com
 
Hot Bijouxx: 9 p.m. Two Rivers Brewing Company, 542 Northampton St. 610-829-1131 or www.tworiversbrewing.com

Brian Dean Moore: 9 p.m. Colonial Pizza & Spaghetti House, 136-138 Spring Garden St. 610-252-3033 or www.colonialpizzapub.com

Ole Skool Friday Night Jukebox Jam: 10 p.m. A night of memories and a funky good time. Feel free to jump into the stream. Dancing and singing is highly encouraged--it's an age regression session!  La Pazza, 1251 Ferry St. 610-515-0888 or www.lapazza.com

DJ Mikey Z: 10 p.m. Riegelsville Tavern, 1274 Easton Road, Riegelsville. 610-510-3030 or www.riegelsvilletavern.com

The Depas: 10 p.m. Porters' Pub, 700 Northampton St. 610-250-6561 or www.porterspubeaston.com

DJ Lazykid: 10 p.m. Dub's on Fifth, 402 South Fifth St., West Easton. 610-438-3827 or www.dubson5th.com

Saturday, November 30

Shop Small Saturday: A number of Easton businesses are participating in this annual event. Stop by and browse, help celebrate all the unique items and superior service small, local businesses have to offer. Various locations.

Holiday Art Affair: Begins 5 p.m. Lehigh Valley artists and food artisans including:  Emily Gartner, Ann Elizabeth Schlegel, Freckle Face Fudge, Mary Ann Riker, Mary Mulder, Bob Schantz and Brian Wiles, with live music and more. The Grand Eastonian Suites Hotel, 140 Northampton St. 484-597-6663

Free Texas Hold'em: 7 & 9 p.m. Registration is 15 minutes prior to each game. La Pazza, 1251 Ferry St. 610-515-0888 or www.lapazza.com

A Few Good Men, DJ Mike West: Band at 7 p.m., DJ at 10 p.m. Rivals Sports Bar & Nightclub, 5 Lehns Court. 610-923-7625 or www.rivalseaston.com

Jordan White: 8 p.m.  Leaf Restaurant Cigar Bar Lounge, 90 Mort Drive. 610-559-1336

George Kilby Jr.: 8 p.m. The Riegelsville Inn, 12 Delaware Road, Riegelsville. 610-749-0100 or www.riegelsvilleinn.com

Go Trio: 9 p.m. Two Rivers Brewing Company, 542 Northampton St. 610-829-1131 or www.tworiversbrewing.com

Decoy Clones: 9 p.m. Riegelsville Tavern, 1274 Easton Road, Riegelsville. 610-510-3030 or www.riegelsvilletavern.com

Joe Cassady and the West End Sound: 10 p.m. College Hill Tavern, 420 Cattell St. 610-252-9456

Uncle Rocco: 10 p.m. Dub's on Fifth, 402 South Fifth St., West Easton. 610-438-3827 or www.dubson5th.com

Our Griffins: 10 p.m. Porters' Pub, 700 Northampton St. 610-250-6561 or www.porterspubeaston.com

Sunday, December 1

Gary Schocker CD Release Celebration: 2 p.m. The internationally acclaimed flutist performs a short set of solo flute music, followed by a CD signing of "A Harp for Christmas." Mercantile Home, 140 Northampton St. 610-258-4046 or www.mercantilehome.com

Industry Night: 10 p.m. Rivals Sports Bar & Nightclub, 5 Lehns Court. 610-923-7625 or www.rivalseaston.com

Easton's most comprehensive guide to what's happening over the weekend, in the city and beyond, is published every Friday.

Are you planning an event? Did we miss something? Let us know! Email us.

Scene in Easton: The 107th Annual Easton-P'burg Thanksgiving Day Game

By Christina Georgiou

Easton Red Rovers Defeat P'burg

For the third year in a row, the Easton Red Rovers achieved victory over the Phillipsburg Stateliners, beating the rival team 16-7 at the traditional Thanksgiving Day game.

Despite the frigid temperatures, dedicated fans from both sides of the river packed a sold-out Fisher Stadium to watch players give it their all and cheer them on.

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