West Virginia Christmas Celebrations
By Samantha Cart
For many, the joy of the holiday season can be overshadowed by the work of decorating, entertaining and gift giving. This year, rather than allowing the season to pass in a blur of parties, plays, storefronts and errands, make time to experience a truly unique take on the holidays: Christmas in West Virginia. Whether you are looking for an opportunity to pack up your family for a long weekend, gift your employees with a festive day out of the office or forego the traditional Christmas party with your friends, these Mountain State events are sure to make this your most memorable holiday season yet.
60 Days of Holiday Cheer at The Greenbrier
One of the Christmas trees on display at The Greenbrier. Photo by The Greenbrier.
November 22–January 1
Families have been coming to The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV, to celebrate the holidays for more than a century. America’s Resort starts its 60 Days of Holiday Cheer on November 4, 2018, and it runs until January 4, 2019. Along with the luxurious amenities and wide variety of activities available year-round, the holiday festivities incorporate special events like a family scavenger hunt, tree lighting, ice skating, craft workshops, sleigh rides, trolley light tours and a New Year’s Eve party, as well as over-the-top decorations, decadent food and seasonal music.
“The Greenbrier goes all out to celebrate the holidays,” says Cam Huffman, director of public relations. “With thousands of lights throughout our 11,000 acres, elegantly decorated trees around every corner and the smells of traditional holiday favorites in the restaurants, there is a reason why families keep going back to The Greenbrier for the holidays year after year.”
Beverly Old Fashioned Christmas
December 1
The Beverly Old Fashioned Christmas event, hosted by the Beverly Heritage Center, allows guests to take a step back in time and enjoy period-specific activities and shopping. There is no admission fee for this annual event, and the historic theme is carried out with homemade ornament making, live music and a visit from Victorian Santa.
“Old Fashioned Beverly Christmas is unique,” says Historic Beverly Spokesperson Richard Evans. “There are lovely homemade decorations on the doors and windows made of pine, fruit and berries, and staff and musicians are dressed in their finest 19th-century garb. If it snows, seeing them walking in the snow suggests what the streets and sidewalks of Beverly may have looked like in the 1860s. It is such a different feel from shopping in malls and big box stores.”
Visitors can easily fill an entire day in Beverly by shopping for unique holiday gifts, exploring Beverly Presbyterian Church’s annual holiday bazaar and eating at the Beverly Bistro. The event concludes with a community sing-a-long of traditional carols and hymns that takes place just before the lighting of the community Christmas tree in the Beverly Town Square.
Christmas on the Frontier
December 1
This holiday season, experience Christmas as it was celebrated on the colonial frontier with a visit to Fort Randolph in Point Pleasant’s Krodel Park. This annual event is free to the public, and visitors will enjoy reenactors portraying the Christmas traditions and customs of the time.
“The fort is decorated in greenery and ribbons, typical decorations for the 18th century,” says Deb Cassady, chairperson of the Fort Randolph Committee. “Reenactors are dressed in clothing appropriate for the late 1770s, and snacks such as candy and punch are provided to the public.”
Guests are encouraged to explore the fort and speak with the reenactors while warming themselves by the tavern fire. Volunteers will share the history of Fort Randolph, which served as an outpost and a safe place for soldiers on the western frontier, an important part of West Virginia’s rich heritage.
“I love sharing the 18th-century holiday traditions,” says Cassady. “Point Pleasant is a town that understands and appreciates all of the historical events that have taken place in the community, and this event is a way to share in the holidays and connect the past to the present.”
Festival of Trees
November 20–December 6
The Festival of Trees at The Blennerhassett Hotel. Photo by Nicole Slattery.
The annual Festival of Trees, held at The Blennerhassett Hotel in Parkersburg, WV, is a decorating contest and fundraiser that benefits the Easter Seals, an organization that provides services to individuals with disabilities and special needs and their families.
Now in its 32nd year, the contest allows local artists and businesses to decorate a tree, wreath or mantel piece to be auctioned off, and all of the money from the auction goes to special needs children in the Mid-Ohio Valley. The display fills the lobby and entire first floor of the hotel. It remains up for three weeks and brings in more than 1,000 visitors each year.
“The auction is typically held the first Thursday in December so patrons can have the decorations in their homes for the holidays,” explains Melissa Marco, director of community relations for the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center. “In years past, the Festival of Trees was ranked as one of the top 10 things to see in West Virginia during the holidays.”
The auction day also includes breakfast with Santa, making it a family affair. “It’s the season to be with family and friends, and this magical display really brings people together,” says Nicole Slattery, marketing manager for The Blennerhassett Hotel. “To know you are supporting such a wonderful cause makes it that much more heartwarming and enjoyable when viewing these amazing trees.”
Harpers Ferry Olde Tyme Christmas
Holiday shoppers join Santa and Mrs. Claus at Harpers Ferry Olde Tyme Christmas. Photo by Harpers Ferry Merchants Association.
November 30–December 9
Capture the spirit of historic Harpers Ferry at the Olde Tyme Christmas celebration. Enjoy the quaintly decorated streets, extended hours and special sales at local shops and restaurants, the lighting of the Yule Log and town Christmas tree, candy-making demonstrations, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, performances by local musicians and historians, a live nativity at St. Pete’s Catholic Church, the Bolivar Christmas parade and horse-drawn wagon rides.
Hosted by the Harpers Ferry Merchants Association, Town of Harpers Ferry, Town of Bolivar, West Virginia State Division of Culture and History and Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the annual event is a true community effort.
“Harpers Ferry Olde Tyme Christmas is a traditional event filled with the sights, sounds and smells of a traditional American Christmas celebration,” says Liesel Corder, secretary of the Harpers Ferry Merchants Association, chairperson of the Olde Tyme Christmas committee and owner of Stonehouse Bed & Breakfast. “The goal is to increase visitorship and commerce in December. We strive to provide an event centered around history, hospitality and singularity. We want guests to experience what makes Harpers Ferry special.”
Winter Festival of Lights
November 9–January 1
Guests take in the light show at Oglebay’s Festival of Lights. Photo by Oglebay.
Oglebay’s annual Winter Festival of Lights is listed as one the 10 Best Christmas Light Displays in the U.S. according to AOL Travel. Enjoy this year’s light show with new 3-D sleigh bans, holographic eyewear that transforms every light into an even more magical display.
Since 1985, the Winter Festival of Lights has grown into one of the country’s largest holiday light shows and attracts more than 1 million visitors per year. The show includes 300 acres of twinkling lights over a 6-mile drive and 90 lighted attractions with more than 1 million energy-efficient LED lights. While the event is free, a per-car donation is requested.
Come for the lights, but stay for the atmosphere. The resort offers a wide variety of holiday activities, including specially priced overnight packages, a winter carnival, Santa’s reindeer training school, Christmas at Oglebay Good Zoo, breakfast with Santa, holiday shopping, trolley tours, nighttime receptions, live entertainment and pictures with Santa.
