Happy Holidays from ROX, Roxborough's annual holiday celebration, returned on December 6th and 7th to spread holiday cheer. Visitors stopped by the Roxborough Pocket Park (6170 Ridge Avenue) and Santa's Headquarters (RoxyHall Island Cuisine, 6139 Ridge Avenue) for the annual tree lighting, holiday shopping, and Santa on the Engine 39 fire truck.
Shining Bright
The festivities kicked off in the Roxborough Pocket Park on Friday, December 6th.
State Representative Tarik Khan joined Jax Cusack (Executive Director, Roxborough Development Corporation) and Colleen Coyer (Owner, Poppy & Bean) in lighting the towering Roxborough holiday trees - courtesy of the Gorgas Park Tree Stand - as carols from the Watershed Church Band filled the chilly air.
Representative Khan even led his own carol: a rousing rendition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!
Colleen and her husband Philip (Owner, Eremita Cafe) are the 2024 awardees of the Roots of Roxborough Award.
With the trees lit, revelers enjoyed complimentary chai tea from The White Yak Restaurant, local brews from New Ridge Brewing Co., and warm funnel cakes from Hardy's Funnel Cakes as they stopped by one of the 15 artisan vendors on site. Make-your-own s'mores kits kept spirits bright in the 25 degrees Fahrenheit weather.
Magical Memories
The festivities continued on Saturday, December 7th. Philadelphia band Rk$tdy brightened up the Pocket Park with their lively holiday tunes as families sang karaoke with Elsa (aka Kristen Dennison, former Roxborough Development Corporation Events & Marketing Director and current CEO of the Pretzel Theater Company), and shopped, as little ones played holiday-themed games and read holiday stories with Flyleaf the Book Fairy.
At 3 PM, a faint siren could be heard echoing from northern Ridge Avenue. Families gathered at the entrance to the Roxborough Pocket Park to see what all the fuss was about, just to see the bright red Roxborough Engine 39 fire truck rolling in.
The truck was decked out in a festive holiday wreath, and carrying none other than Santa!
Joined by his trusty elf, Santa settled down in front of the Roxborough holiday trees, where he took free photos with families, tapped his books to holiday music, and sipped on hot cocoa from New Ridge Brewing Co.
As the night drew to a close, Santa stopped by the Santa's Headquarters indoor market at (RoxyHall Island Cuisine, 6139 Ridge Avenue) to check the gift progress. Santa completed his night with a toast at New Ridge Brewing Company and hearing holiday wishes at Peck Miller's Bar (an annual tradition that Santa would not miss for the world).
Thank you to our sponsors!
As with all Roxborough Development Corporation events, Happy Holidays from ROX would not be possible without our community of dedicated sponsors.
The Roxborough Development Corporation would like to thank New Ridge Brewing Co., MGMT Residential, European Wax Center, Renewal by Andersen, and Power Home Remodeling for their generous support.
Independence Blue Cross, a long-time supported of the Roxborough Development Corporation, was the official sponsor of Photos With Santa.
In-kind donations were generously provided by The White Yak Restaurant and the Gorgas Park Tree Stand.