Article Photos

Fact Box

Parade dates

Elkins, 6 p.m. Friday

Buckhannon, 6:30 p.m. Friday

Philippi, 7 p.m. Friday

Rock Cave, 1 p.m. Saturday

Mill Creek, 3 p.m. Sunday

Belington, 2 p.m. Dec. 12

Parsons, 6 p.m. Dec. 12

The countdown to Christmas has begun. Decorations are beginning to light up homes as sparkles of reds and greens adorn shop windows and local communities prepare to celebrate season with a full slate of events.

The Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce annual Christmas parade is scheduled to step off at 6 p.m. Friday at the old Elkins High School. The parade will make its way up Davis Avenue and end at Elkins City Hall. After the parade, Santa will greet children at the Railroad Depot.

Beverly is hosting its 10th Old Fashioned Christmas Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Throughout the day, the Beverly Heritage Center will host activities for children, including take home ornaments and holiday bird feeders. Specialty shops Cornucopia, The Goff House Antiques & Textile Studio, Beverly Books & Antiques, Yarn & Company, Blossom Village, The Lemuel Chenoweth House and the Beverly Heritage Center Gift Shop will be open and a Victorian Santa will visit the stores to greet shoppers and children.

Mill Creek will celebrate the start of the holidays with a parade at 3 p.m. Sunday. The parade lineup begins at 2:30 p.m. at the Mill Creek water plant. Anyone may participate in the parade. After the parade, Santa will be at George Ward School to greet children and refreshments will be served at the event. Also after the parade, a Christmas tree will be lit in the Mill Creek Park and Christmas caroling will follow the lighting.

The Parsons Christmas Parade will march through the downtown streets on Dec. 12 beginning at 6 p.m. This year's theme will be "Christmas Memories," in honor of former Mayor Bill Rosenau who always enjoyed the celebration. People or groups who would like to participate in the parade can call the Parsons City Hall at 304-478-2311.

In Barbour County, the Philippi Main Street Committee will begin the holiday season on Friday with a variety of activities. A parade is scheduled for 7 p.m. with the lineup at Subway. The theme is "North Pole Fantasy on Candy Cane Lane" and prizes will be awarded to those entries that best reflect the theme. Following the parade, children can visit with Santa at the Barbour County Courthouse gazebo.

"Several events are scheduled to kick off the holiday season," Main Street Director Tammy Stemple said. "The main event is our annual Christmas Parade."

The annual holiday craft show, sponsored by the Philip Barbour High School band, will also be Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the basement of the Philippi City Building. The craft show will feature more than 30 vendors with a variety of items for sale.

The Philippi Main Street Committee and the Philippi Convention and Visitors Bureau are sponsoring Breakfast with Santa at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in Heiner Hall on the campus of Alderson-Broaddus College. Children younger than age 12 will be admitted free, while adults and children 12 and older will be charged a fee. Reservations are required. For additional information and reservations, call 304-457-3700.

In Belington, the annual Christmas Parade will step off at 2 p.m. Dec. 12. Lineup will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Sheetz. Following the parade, Santa Claus will make a visit to the upstairs of Belington City Hall and give out treats to the kids. The Belington Convention and Visitors Bureau is sponsoring the activities.

Two Christmas parades are scheduled for Upshur County, one in Buckhannon and one in Rock Cave.

The Buckhannon Christmas Parade is set for Friday, sponsored by the Buckhannon Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Buckhannon Fire Department. The theme for the parade is "Christmas Around the World."

The lineup will be at 5:30 p.m. in the parking lot behind Wendy's. The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the corner of Madison and South Locust streets, then continue down Main Street to the Buckhannon Fire Department.

Following the parade, parents and children will be able to meet Santa at the fire department to receive candy and to make their wishes known. The parade will take place rain or shine and children should dress appropriately for the weather.

On Saturday, the annual Southern Upshur Business Association will have its Christmas parade at Rock Cave. Participants will line up at 12:15 p.m. at Rock Cave Elementary School with the parade starting at 1 p.m. The parade will travel down state Route 20 and Route 4 and will end at the Banks District Fire Department. Following the parade, Santa will be in the Civic Center at the fire department and refreshments will be available.