Santa Is Coming
Santa Claus is coming to Wetzel County and the surrounding area at many different events in the coming days and weeks as many people gear up for Christmas on Dec. 25.
Perhaps the biggest local event is the Wetzel County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade held on Main Street in New Martinsville. This year’s event will take place Saturday at 6 p.m. The theme is “All I Want for Christmas Is” and it is sure to inspire some wonderful, lighted floats. Area bands will also fill the streets with festival music.
Hundred will hold its Christmas parade Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. The big man himself will be visiting with children afterward at Hundred High School and giving toys to good girls and boys.
While he won’t exactly be in a parade in the Grandview area, Santa will be riding with the Grandview Volunteer Fire Department Dec. 7 and 8, beginning at 6 p.m. each night. On Dec. 7 Santa will go to the Anderson Hill and Rines Ridge area. On Dec. 8 Santa will go to the West Post Office, Friendship, and Limestone. In case some unforeseen circumstance keeps Santa from his appointed rounds on those days, he will be sure to visit the children of the Grandview area Dec. 9.
Santa will also be enjoying breakfast with children Saturday morning at the New Martinsville United Methodist Church from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The visit includes a picture with the celebrity. A Christmas Bazaar will also be held there from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with crafts, food, and more.
Santa will join the Reader community for Christmas in the Park Saturday, 4-6 p.m. There will be a tree lighting and caroling shortly after 6 p.m.
While not a Wetzel County event, it’s just a short drive to the Woodsfield Christmas Festival Saturday that includes Santa’s workshop, craft show, carriage rides, barrel train rides, Christmas characters passing out candy canes, Christmas caroling, live Nativity scene, parade at 6 p.m., and a community open house at the Brown Community Center. There is also a window decorating contest and a Festival of Lights at the City Park.
Also in Ohio, the Dally Memorial Library is holding its third annual Christmas in Mitford Saturday from noon-4 p.m. at River High School. A Christmas village based on Jan Karon’s Mitford series will be recreated. There will also be Santa’s Workshop, Bane and Blessing (new and gently used items), Happy Endings Bookstore, and the Sweet-shop Bakery. Santa will join from 1-3 p.m. There will also be a ham dinner with all the delicious trimmings.
On Sunday the Francis Creative Arts Center in New Martinsville will feature unique nativity scenes from around the area and around the world. The ArtsLink exhibit will be open from 2-4 p.m. Visitors to the exhibit will be treated to light refreshments and will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the self-guided Holiday House Tour which will begin at 3 p.m. and continue until 6 p.m.
For those wanting to be entertained with a classic, Magnolia High School’s production of Scrooge will be presented on Dec. 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door, students being $6 and adults being $8.
Also, the Wetzel County Committee on Aging’s annual holiday event will be held Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. at the New Martinsville facility on Paducah Drive, It includes a full dinner and entertainment with Ryan Ritchie and The Gracemen. RSVP by calling 455-3220 by Dec. 9 at noon.