Posted: July 8, 2025 1:28 pm
Today Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership (DDJP) held a press conference at Peoples Natural Gas Park to announce temporary locations for activities that will be displaced by 2025 construction at Johnstown’s Central Park. Heritage Johnstown and Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership have many of the same goals – we work toward economic development in Johnstown, and to improve the quality of life here to make Johnstown a better place to live, work, move, or retire — and we are delighted to be working together with DDJP to temporarily bring the Christmas Tree to Peoples Natural Gas Park in 2025. DDJP’s press release is below.
Today the Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership, a 501c(3) volunteer organization, announced plans for events and activities related to the upcoming Halloween and Christmas seasons. In April the Partnership was made aware that due to the impending construction in Central Park, all activities after September 1 required relocation. Several alternate locations were considered within Downtown, as well as within the city limits, and further into the Greater Johnstown area.
Recently the Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership executed an agreement with Heritage Johnstown to rent Peoples Natural Gas Park for the Christmas holiday season. The Christmas Tree @ Central Park, as well as the Christmas Village, will be relocated to Peoples Natural Gas Park for 2025. Along with this new 2025 home, the Partnership also announced the return of the traditional Hometown Christmas Parade. The parade will stage in Downtown and march toward Peoples Natural Gas Park and conclude with the annual Light Up Night on Friday, November 21. Additional events such as the Christmas Express @ Central Park, the annual S’mores Night, New Year’s Eve Countdown, and the annual Last Lights event will all take place at Peoples Natural Gas Park this year. The animated tree program will play nightly from 5 PM until 11 PM, and no admission fee will be charged.
The Partnership also announced a new location for Halloween @ Central Park. The Partnership partnered with Conemaugh Health System for use of a grassy outdoor space adjacent to the Lee Campus in Downtown near the intersection of Market and Main Streets. The animated Halloween program will run nightly from 6:30pm until 9pm beginning on Saturday, October 18, through Friday, October 31. This location, as well as Morley’s Parklet, will also host the annual scarecrow competition. The Partnership’s Trunk or Treat will take place on Saturday, October 25, and the annual Halloween Parade on Tuesday, October 28.
Partnership President, Melissa Radovanic, stated “It has been a challenge since April to consider all the variables and requirements for our events. The Christmas Tree and Village require a significant amount of space and electricity, as well as the weight and balance needed for the Tree, has made this a difficult process. Suddenly having to plan for a new location for both Christmas and Halloween required a tremendous amount of work and time from this volunteer organization.” She also stated: “Our mindset is always the community. We want families to make memories, and we want children to have Christmas. Never underestimate the drive of volunteers, especially when presented with an unexpected challenge. ‘Hallowistmas’, as we call it, will be unique and memorable in 2025.”
Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership will seek donations this year to offset the unexpected costs to rent a private facility for the holiday season. Donations can be sent in care of the Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership, PO Box 882, Johnstown, PA 15907.
The Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership is a consortium of business leaders and residents who work toward a cleaner, safer, and more inviting Downtown Johnstown. The organization’s programs include Taste & Tour, Operation Clean Sweep, First Fridays, Easter Eggstravaganza, Halloween @ Central Park, the Christmas Tree @ Central Park and the annual Christmas Parade and Light Up Night. To learn more about Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership, visit www.discoverjohnstown.org
