COVID-19 could not squash the Christmas spirit in Palmerton on Saturday.

Santa parked his sleigh at the Aquashicola Fire Company #1 and jumped on board a firetruck to be driven through the streets of Palmerton while holiday favorites played through the speakers.

Even though the annual Christmas in the Park festival was canceled, people from near and far visited the park to witness the lighting of the trees lining the walkways.

Returning favorites, memorials, and new trees adorned with lights, baubles and trinkets welcomed children of all ages.

Nearby, at Bethany Wesleyan Church, a live Nativity welcomed over 300 visitors to its first Christmas event.

The Palmerton Christmas Tree Committee coordinates the trees in the park, and while no official tree lighting was held because of COVID-19, social media outlets helped promote the unofficial lighting.

To add to the community cheer, a train was added to the Delaware Avenue trellis. Among the many beautiful trees in the park, one tree stood out the most as a gathering of people surrounded it.

The family of Taylor Hutnick, a 26-year-old killed in a motorcycle accident in May 2018 on Route 248, joined together to celebrate her life and witness the lighting of her memorial tree.

Her mom, Kris Leibovitz, of Whitehall; sister, Lauren Cruz of Northampton; brother, Jake Hutnick of Lehighton; niece, Marible Cruz, 3; and nephew, Evander Cruz, 4 months, were joined by about 25 other relatives to pay homage to Taylor.

This is the second year they’ve put up a tree to remember Taylor.

Sandy Benson of Palmerton hosts the famous red tree that gives out brand-new knitted hats and gloves. Her sister, Carol DeSousa and niece, Jill DeSousa, make the hats and gloves and keep the tree filled throughout the season. This is their 10th anniversary of hosting a tree in the park.

While COVID changed the annual Palmerton event, Benson said that while “it’s kind of sad, it’s still great that we can do this.” The Santa head that tops her tree was one of her parents’ old Christmas decorations.

While music filled the streets of Delaware Avenue, folks could take a short walk from the park to Bethany Wesleyan Church to witness the live Nativity and interactive Christmas story.

The Gruver family of Palmerton tended the flock at BWC.

Candice and Chris Gruver and their sons, Seth, 14, and Mason, 8, managed an adorable donkey and two sheep while the infant Jesus, portrayed by 4-month-old Daniel Thear of Jim Thorpe, was swaddled by his mother, Sarah Thear, playing the role of Mary, while his father, Luke Thear, played the role of Joseph. Madison Levrun, 10, of Palmerton and Alexis Getz, 8, of Lehighton portrayed angels.

The Rev. Kathleen Dieter was overjoyed by the attendance during the one-hour Nativity event.

While this was its first year, she said BWC is “calling this our annual event.” She was very pleased with the attendance, and she was “both surprised and not surprised” by the turnout. She said “the residents of Palmerton are a very interactive and engaged community.”

In addition to the live Nativity, parishioners gave out Advent boxes with family activities for each day in Advent and children could play a cup game to win small toys. Hot chocolate awaited visitors, and Santa was on hand to assure children that COVID can’t even stop Santa.