For Judy Ciervo, the holiday season officially begins with Reading’s annual holiday parade.
“It’s just a good way to start the Christmas season,” she said Saturday morning as she awaited the start of the parade down Penn Street. “I’ll go home and start decorating after this parade.”
Bundled in a down puffer coat, Ciervo sat in a folding chair within eyeshot of City Park, where the Reading police honor guard and motorcycle escort were queued, ready to lead a nearly two-hour lineup of marching bands, dance teams, community groups, emergency vehicles and much more.
Ciervo, who lives near the park, said she made the parade part of her seasonal traditions decades ago.
“I just always come,” she said, adding with a laugh, “Not for the candy. But I come every year just to support it, rain or shine.”
The Reading Water Authority float provided some snowfall along with the candy during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Hosted by the city, the parade has become a cherished tradition for area residents.
Despite the wet weather, the event, themed “The Gift of Giving,” drew a strong crowd. Hundreds lined the 10-block route from 11th Street to Second Street.
The morning’s drizzle had an upside, Ciervo said, noting there could have been sleet, snow and frigid temperatures as in some years.
“It’s warm,” she said. “I don’t even need my gloves.”
For some of those living along the parade route, the weather was of no concern.
Children watch from an apartment window during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
They watched, faces pressed against the glass, from the windows of upper story apartments.
Others leaned out open windows or stood on balconies and fire escapes for a better view.
On the street below, brothers Sebastian, 4, and Julian Castro, 8, and their cousin Zavian Castro, 7, might have come for the candy.
That is, judging by their excitement over the candy canes and lollipops flung toward them by the marchers.
The boys scrambling in the gutter, picking up handfuls of sweets were part of an extended family group that also makes the parade part of their traditions.
The Grinch greets from left brothers Julian, 8; Zavier, 7; and Sebastian Castro, 4, during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The multigenerational group, headed by matriarch Nola Gilden of Spring Township, included her daughter Jenny Painter of Shillington, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and some of their friends. All were dressed in red and green holiday-themed outfits.
Gilden said the family has attended the parade every year since her son, 56, was a toddler.
“I remember being here one year in the snow, in my boots, holding him when he was about 2,” she said.
Doreen Figueroa dresses like a Santa Elf to watch the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Outfitted as one of Santa’s elves, Doreen Figueroa of Reading stood at the corner of Eighth and Penn Street, occasionally clapping and jingling the bells on her bracelets to show her enjoyment of the bands, firetrucks and floats decorated with secular and religious scenes.
Figueroa said, she attended the parade with her parents when she was a child. Later, she brought her children and grandchildren.
“They’re living in Florida now,” she said. “But I still come myself. I’m a Christmas freak.”
The crowd’s anticipation grew as the final entries made their way down Penn Street.
Then Santa appeared, waving from a float decked with a sleigh and reindeer.
Children, and adults, too, called out and waved as the big man in red rolled past, ending the parade.
For Ciervo and many others in the crowd, it was the moment that officially opened the holiday season.
The Reading High band performs during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The Grinch greets from left brothers Julian, 8; Zavier, 7; and Sebastian Castro, 4, during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Residents watch the parade from their apartment balcony during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The Reading Water Authority float provided some snowfall along with the candy during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
District Judge Priscilla Campos and her son Elix Ortiz, 9, march as reindeer in the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Santa Claus waves from his sleigh during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Reading High basketball team members greet parade-goers along the route during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Reading Mayor Eddie Moran waves during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Reading High Dance Team members distribute candy along the route during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
A youngster dressed like a shepherd walks next to a float from Arrows Christian Academy during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Salvadore Lemus holds his sleeping grandson, Esteban, 10 months, during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The Reading Police honor guard leads the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Children watch from an apartment window during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The Reading High Dance Team marches during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Reading Area Community College President Dr. Susan Looney waves during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The Reading High flag team practices before the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Judy Ciervo of Reading applauds the Reading High School Band during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Berks County Commissioner Christian Leinbach waves during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Doreen Figueroa dresses like a Santa Elf to watch the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Zach Sweigart, 18, a senior at Conrad Weiser High School, plays his holiday-themed trombone during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The Alvernia University cheerleaders perform a routine on Penn Square in front of the reviewing stand during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
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The Reading High band performs during the Reading Holiday Parade down Penn Street on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)