Close Menu
  • Home
  • Holiday Loops
  • Advertise with Us
  • About
    • About & Contact
    • Advertise with Us
    • Legal
    • Vote
  • Good News
  • Get Involved
    • Nominate an Inspirational Person of the Week
    • Submit Your Video, Photo or Story
  • Podcast
  • Support Us
  • Subscribe to Newsletter

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest good news and other great things from STN.

What's Hot

Cafaro Foundation Scholarships Awarded to 50 Students

May 14, 2025

Curbstone Coaches #HOF Spotlight: Jim Morrison, Contribution to Sports

May 14, 2025

STN Inspirational Quotes To Keep You Inspired in 2025

May 12, 2025
Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
Spanning the Need: Good News, Inspiring, the Uninspired.
Subscribe Login
  • About
    • About & Contact
    • Advertise with Us
    • Legal
    • Holiday Loops
    • Vote
  • Holiday Loops
  • Podcast

    E138: From Nurse to Heart Health Advocate: Jennifer Knight’s Inspiring Journey

    August 13, 2024

    E137: Chef Ottavio Musumeci’s Culinary Journey: Celebrating 38 Years of Passion and Excellence at Station Square

    July 30, 2024

    E136: Educating with Passion and Purpose: Superintendent Tim Saxton’s 36-Year Journey

    July 9, 2024

    E135: Building a Legacy: Dr. Farid Naffah on Medicine, LadyKindness and the Avamar Foundation

    June 18, 2024

    E134: Preserving the Past, Embracing the Future: Mayor Ben Kyle’s Leadership in Hubbard

    May 28, 2024
  • Good News
    1. Education
    2. Community & Activism
    3. Person of the Week
    4. Sports
    5. Travel
    6. View All

    Cafaro Foundation Scholarships Awarded to 50 Students

    May 14, 2025

    POTW: Education Edition: Jerry Turillo, Boardman Local Schools (Teacher Appreciation Week)

    May 8, 2025

    #POTW: Education Edition: Ashley Kermec, Girard City Schools (Teacher Appreciation Week)

    May 7, 2025

    #POTW: Education Edition: Melissa Hackett, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center (Teacher Appreciation Week)

    May 5, 2025

    2025 ATHENA Award Nominees Announced

    May 9, 2025

    84 Lumber Donates $100,000 on ‘Good Morning America’ to Help Rebuild Community

    April 29, 2025

    Girard teen victorious in competition to fight back against heart disease and stroke

    April 25, 2025

    Carrie Malotte named American Heart Association® Go Red for Women’s® Northeast Ohio Woman of Impact Winner

    April 25, 2025

    Curbstone Coaches #HOF Spotlight: Jim Morrison, Contribution to Sports

    May 14, 2025

    POTW: Education Edition: Jerry Turillo, Boardman Local Schools (Teacher Appreciation Week)

    May 8, 2025

    #POTW: Education Edition: Ashley Kermec, Girard City Schools (Teacher Appreciation Week)

    May 7, 2025

    #POTW: Education Edition: Melissa Hackett, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center (Teacher Appreciation Week)

    May 5, 2025

    Curbstone Coaches #HOF Spotlight: Jim Morrison, Contribution to Sports

    May 14, 2025

    Curbstone Coaches #HOF Spotlight: Steve Leslie, Contribution to Sports

    April 30, 2025

    Curbstone Coaches #HOF Spotlight: Brian Gorby, Track and Field/Cross Country Honoree

    April 23, 2025

    Curbstone Coaches #HOF Spotlight: Doug Kuberski, Bowling Honoree

    April 16, 2025

    National Road Trip Day

    May 24, 2024

    #TravelTuesday, Holiday display marks 60 years of family tradition at Kraynaks

    November 7, 2023

    #TravelTuesday: Holiday Season Getaway…at Fair Oaks Farms

    October 31, 2023

    #TravelTuesday: Finland is the happiest country in the world – for the sixth year in a row

    October 24, 2023

    Cafaro Foundation Scholarships Awarded to 50 Students

    May 14, 2025

    Curbstone Coaches #HOF Spotlight: Jim Morrison, Contribution to Sports

    May 14, 2025

    STN Inspirational Quotes To Keep You Inspired in 2025

    May 12, 2025

    2025 ATHENA Award Nominees Announced

    May 9, 2025
  • Get Involved
    • Nominate an Inspirational Person of the Week
    • Submit Your Video, Photo or Story
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Events
  • Support Us
Spanning the Need: Good News, Inspiring, the Uninspired.
Home » Good News » #TravelTuesday, Holiday display marks 60 years of family tradition at Kraynaks
Travel

#TravelTuesday, Holiday display marks 60 years of family tradition at Kraynaks

STN StaffBy STN StaffNovember 7, 20231 Comment3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

For 60 years, families from the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys and beyond have visited Santa’s Christmasland at Kraynak’s

Elaine Pekarovic of Austintown remembers the annual trips to the Hermitage, Pa., store with her family when she was a child. The family of five — mom, dad and the three kids — made the yearly visits.

“My mother always took us to the Christmas one,” she said. “It was like a tradition thing because it was free.”

The tradition started when Pekarovic was about 10 and continued into her teens. Her mother though, revived the tradition when her grandchildren grew old enough to appreciate the displays.

“My mother took my nephews when they were younger and now they take their daughters and sons,” Pekarovic said. “It’s a family tradition.”

As a child, she always looked forward to the family trips.

Good Luck on Your First Day of School, Students

“Because of the way that it’s all set up…It gave you tons of ideas for decorating your tree and decorating your spaces and anything that you need,” she said. “And then if there was anything you wanted to buy, you could buy it there because that’s what they did.”

It’s been a few years since she’s visited as an adult.

Dan Zippie, Kraynak’s general manager, said this year’s display is all new.

“We have the traditional themes from gingerbread and snowmen to an outside winter scene and we show Santa in a different venue every year and then we have the nativity scene in the last room,” he said.

The family-owned store opened in 1949 and Zippie’s grandfather, John Kraynak, started the Christmas display in 1963.

The display runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. It started Sept. 10 and runs through Dec. 31.

Popular Valley Singer Vows to Return to the Stage

“it’s been a family tradition because many children went through the display as youngsters and every year it’s new,” Zippie said. “Every year they come back to see what’s new. They become parents and then grandparents and it’s something that a family can to for free.”

It’s a 300-foot display with 88 trees.

“It’s just been a local gem that people who grew up in the area, when they come back and visit, they want to come through the display,” he said.

The display’s highlights depend on each visitor.

“Everyone has their own favorite,” Zippie said. “Many come through several times and they spot different things they like from time to time.”

His favorite is the nativity scene.

“I like the true meaning of Christmas,” he said. “I like the nativity at the end. We feature that which is what Christmas is and I really enjoy how we enjoy how we present the nativity scene.”

While the display runs for a few months, it’s a year-long endeavor for store employees. Planning for the following year starts in January and they start making props in the spring. It involves all store employees.

“Everybody’s using their different gifts to help,” Zippie said. “It’s all done from within. It’s all Kraynak’s employees.”

The store doesn’t keep track of how many people visit the display each year, but it’s a lot.

“In November and December, it’s a constant line on those Saturdays and Sundays,” he said.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
Previous ArticleHero Conductor Stops Train to Rescue 3-Year-Old Boy Lost on the Tracks (Video)
Next Article #POTW: Jessica Bader, Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities / 330ToGO
STN Staff

    Related Posts

    By STNMay 24, 2024 Travel

    National Road Trip Day

    By STN StaffOctober 31, 2023 Family & Parenting

    #TravelTuesday: Holiday Season Getaway…at Fair Oaks Farms

    By STN StaffOctober 24, 2023 Travel

    #TravelTuesday: Finland is the happiest country in the world – for the sixth year in a row

    By STNSeptember 19, 2023 Family & Parenting

    #TravelTuesday: Step into the Magic, Immersive Disney Animation Brings Timeless Stories to Life

    1 Comment

    1. Pingback: Kraynak's Christmasland: A Holiday Wonderland in Hermitage, PA : Spanning the Need:

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest good news and other great things from STN.

    Demo
    Recent Posts
    • Cafaro Foundation Scholarships Awarded to 50 Students May 14, 2025
    • Curbstone Coaches #HOF Spotlight: Jim Morrison, Contribution to Sports May 14, 2025
    • STN Inspirational Quotes To Keep You Inspired in 2025 May 12, 2025
    • 2025 ATHENA Award Nominees Announced May 9, 2025
    • Check Out the Events this Weekend, May 9-11 in the Mahoning Valley May 9, 2025
    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Don't Miss
    Education

    Cafaro Foundation Scholarships Awarded to 50 Students

    By STNMay 14, 202502 Mins Read

    As they head into the next school year, the financial burden will be lighter for…

    Curbstone Coaches #HOF Spotlight: Jim Morrison, Contribution to Sports

    May 14, 2025

    STN Inspirational Quotes To Keep You Inspired in 2025

    May 12, 2025

    2025 ATHENA Award Nominees Announced

    May 9, 2025

    Check Out the Events this Weekend, May 9-11 in the Mahoning Valley

    May 9, 2025
    Newsletter

    Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
    • Home
    • About & Contact
    • Advertise with Us
    • Good News
    • Newsletter
    • Events
    © Copyright 2025. STN | Spanning the Need. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy & Legal Disclaimer. Website design by Gallagher Website Design

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Sign In or Register

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below.

    Lost password?