“This is very important to us. Like most hometown folks, we are very proud of the village of Falconer,” said Nina Gustafson, Falconer Rotary Club secretary. “It’s not just a house, it represents more.”

The holiday-themed house is stationed in Coleson Park, named after Walter “Bud” Coleson, who served as Falconer’s first Santa for the annual parade. The house was built in 1966, according to George Black, former owner of Regal Lumber Corporation. Additionally, Black said Coleson served as Santa for the parade until he became ill in the early 1980s.

The house wasn’t always located in Coleson Park — previously being placed behind the former Marine Midland Bank building on North Work Street and later placed in Davis Park on West Main Street. The house was moved to those locations during the holiday season but was then stored at the village highway garage. However in 1983, Coleson Park was established by the village and the Santa House, manned by Coleson himself as Santa for many years, found its permanent home, according to Falconer Historian Brenda Cavallaro.

Gustafson added that much of the support for the parade is mostly an effort to “keep community alive.” She referenced recent fires that destroyed properties in the downtown area, and said during a “critical time” in the village, local residents have “begun to come together.”

The holiday-themed house is currently stationed in Coleson Park, named after Walter “Bud” Coleson.

While the house has virtually remained the same over the years, the recent upgrades ensured the house’s longevity after some visible “wear and tear.”

Work was completed by the Falconer Rotary Club with donations from local businesses and assistance of Falconer Central School art students that include a new paint, carpeting which sports a new interior design for the holiday season.

“It’s something we want to keep alive for the kids,” Gustafson said. “There’s a lot of interest in the parade this year.”

This year’s parade, sponsored by the Rotary Club and village, will be held Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. with formation at 12:30 p.m.

The parade begins at Dow Street and proceeds along West Main Street to South Work Street and Davis Street before ending at Santa’s House in Coleson Park. Each year, Santa and Mrs. Claus are available to meet with the children in the house after the parade.

“Mike Morton from the Sun Dance Kids Farm Petting Zoo will be there for the children while waiting to visit Santa, and every child will be receiving a book donated by the Dolly Parton Imagination Library after their visit to Santa,” Gustafson said.

Participants in this year’s parade include the Falconer American Legion Color Guard, the Falconer-Frewsburg Marching Band, the Brownies, the Girl Scouts, the Cub Scouts, the Boy Scouts, Falconer Rotary Club, Local Church and Civic Groups and local fire departments. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be arriving in a vintage 1936 Mack Fire Truck.

The Falconer Firemen Auxiliary will also be holding its annual holiday bazaar at the fire hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free refreshments being provided.