IN McKeesport Winter 2018 | Page 28

McKeesport Celebrates Holiday Season with 54 th Annual Salute to Santa Parade M cKeesport welcomed visitors from across the Mon Valley to enjoy the 54th annual Salute to Santa parade on November 17. Each year, the city kicks off the holiday season with this exciting procession of student groups, marching bands, community organizations, local officials, and public safety vehicles. The last fire truck, of course, always carries Santa Claus. This year, the crowd heard a few inspirational words from grand marshal Swin Cash, a McKeesport native who went on to become a professional athlete and founder of the Cash 4 Kids foundation. After the parade, Cash joined Mayor Michael Cherepko in crowing this year’s Salute to Santa princess Teegan Lewis and queen Eycyius Csorba. Families gathered at the Palisades for a children’s party, where kids received a free lunch courtesy of the Mon Yough Chamber Foundation, McKeesport Recreation Board, McKeesport Lions Club, Eat’n Park, Turner’s Dairy, and Pennsylvania- American Water. 26 MCKEESPORT AREA