Festival of Trees ready to shine in McKeesport

By Mon Valley Independent

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

Community service organization volunteers, church parishioners, elected officials, students and business leaders from across the Mon Valley have been busy in recent days decking the halls at Renziehausen Park.

They’ve been setting up for the 34th annual Festival of Trees celebration, which kicks off at noon Thursday at the Jacob Woll (Main) Pavilion.

On Thursday night, local girl scout troops will join McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko outside the enclosed pavilion to sing Christmas carols and welcome Santa to the festival as he arrives on a McKeesport Fire Department fire truck.

There will be live holiday-themed musical entertainment inside the pavilion each day of the festival, which runs until Dec. 9 and is open from noon to 9 p.m. each day.

To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Wednesday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.

Latest News, Main

Naomi Outreach honors veterans at annual luncheon

November 5, 2026

Naomi Outreach hosted its semi-annual luncheon for veterans Wednesday at the Clubhouse Grille at Cedarbrook Golf Course in Rostraver Township. Naomi Outreach was started in the early 1990s by Joni Kel...

Latest News, Main

Despite ‘blue wave,’ Valley-wide Republicans rack up wins

By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter

November 5, 2026

The Democratic blue wave swept over much of the nation and Pennsylvania on Election Day, but the Mon Valley managed to avoid the splash. The country may have seen a blue wave Tuesday, but across much ...

Latest News, Main

Monessen ready to welcome students back to the middle/high school

By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com

November 5, 2026

The school board is also set to vote on an online Spanish course for students. Monessen City School District officials are ready to welcome students back to its middle/high school. “I am excited to ge...

Latest News, Main

Shapiro ready to get to work after ‘trifecta’ win

By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter

November 5, 2026

Dems pull off Pa. government ‘trifecta,’ winning control of governor’s mansion, House and Senate. After years of watching legislation on wages, public transit and other priorities stall in the Republi...

Around The Valley, Latest News, Main

Actress Caitlin O’Connor to lead Cookie Crawl through downtown Monongahela

November 5, 2026

The event also celebrates one of Western Pennsylvania’s most cherished culinary traditions: The wedding cookie table. For the MVI Downtown Monongahela is preparing for a sweet celebration on Saturday ...

Around The Valley, Latest News, Main

PennDOT working to restore rare Western Pa. bridge

November 5, 2026

Dunlap’s Creek Bridge, in Brownsville, Fayette County, debuted in 1839 as the first cast-iron bridge in the United States. By ADAM BABETSKI TribLive One of Western Pennsylvania’s oldest bridges is nea...