Communities celebrated Christmas in many ways | News, Sports, Jobs

From parades with floats featuring Christmas scenes to activities for the young and young at heart, local communities celebrated the holiday season with several events this weekend.

Before Follansbee’s Christmas lightup on Saturday evening, many gathered to watch a short parade on Main Street that included the Brooke Middle School Band, Brooke High School and Middle School Cheerleaders and several local emergency departments, including a fire truck carrying Santa, Mrs. Claus and an elf.

Among the many spectators was Cindy Higer of Belvedere, who said she came to see her husband,Eric; and their granddaughter, Sophie, on the Candyland Express float created by Lombardi Development.

Also watching the procession was Roberta Deakins of Weirton, who brought her nephew and niece.

She explained they came to see her daughter, Jannahli Fugueroa, in the Brooke Middle School Band.

ROYAL ENTRY — Edison High School Homecoming Queen Alaina Warren waved to the many who attended the Toronto Christmas Parade, Saturday. — Warren Scott

Deakins said she lived in New York for a while but missed the small town feeling of the Ohio Valley.

“You always know someone in the parade so it has more meaning,” she said while recalling attending the Steubenville Christmas parade as a girl with her father, who held her on his shoulders so she could see.

In addition to visiting with the Clauses, children attending the lightup could create a craft, play cornhole, watch a Christmas video on a large outdoor screen and have their faces painted by art students from Brooke High School.

There also were food trucks and free cookies and cocoa for everyone at the event, which was organized by volunteer Denise Arthurs and members of Follansbee Council.

Also on Saturday evening, Toronto residents and visitors gathered to see the city’s own Christmas parade, which was organized by volunteers with Focus in Toronto.

BIG MOMENT — The Indian Creek High School Band performed for the lighting of the Christmas tree outside the Wintersville Municipal Building Sunday evening. The band and the Catholic Central High School Band were among many units in the village’s Christmas parade, one of many events held during the village’s Winter Weekend celebration. — Warren Scott

Many floats and other units lit up the night with Christmas bulbs and other lights, with the Deb-u-Let Twirlers deftly spinning lighted batons.

They were named the best performing entry by Focus in Toronto, which also presented cash prizes for three floats. Placing first was the brightly lit, candy-decorated pontoon entered by Last Resort Riverfront Bar & Grill; second was a recreation of a scene from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” by Images Hair Salon; and third was a float filled with children and an inflatable Santa and snowman sponsored by the K-Knight Sports Network.

Among the many spectators was Damion Hughes of Pottery Addition, who attended with his mother and children, Zarrah, who enjoyed the large fire trucks; and Taiden, who liked the Shiners on their motorcycles.

The clear favorite for 5-year-old Lydia Finney of Steubenville was Santa Claus, who quickly gained her attention when he appeared at the parade’s end.

Asked his favorite part of the parade, her uncle, Josh Finney, replied, “Just seeing my niece and her friends enjoying all of the different floats.”

Children were invited to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the city’s Gazebo Commons afterward.

Focus in Toronto also will hold a Christmas Art Festival, with food and assorted hand-made items for sale, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Karaffa Recreation Center.

This was the second year for volunteers behind Wednesdays in Wintersville and village officials to team for Wintersville’s Winter Weekend.

The two-day event included the lighting of luminaria along Main Street and the Christmas tree inside Wintersville Methodist Church and a synthetic skating rink, craft and food vendors outside the Village Building.

Joel John, who co-chairs the volunteer Wednesdays in Wintersville Committee with Mary Decker, said about 390 of the bagged candles extended along the street, meeting the group’s goal of lining each side from end to end.

Proceeds from the $5 sponsorships for each one will go to a fund used to help patients at Trinity Health System’s Teramana Cancer Center with financial issues.

John expressed thanks to local businesses that joined many individuals in sponsoring them; and to Julie Robinson, who solicited them; and Janet Carr, who “sold” many of the sponsorships during the summer Wednesdays in Wintersville events.

Many gathered along Main Street to view the village’s Christmas parade, a long-time tradition.

The weather proved to be mercurial during the event, shifting from warm to brisk and drizzly to pouring, but most spectators endured it, watching as a variety of units passed.

Before the Wintersville American Legion Honor Guard stepped forward, they were treated to a surprise chase by Village Police Chief Lou Vandeborne in his police cruiser of The Grinch in an all-terrain vehicle.

The pursuit proved to be successful as The Grinch was seen later in a large cage lifted by heavy equipment on a large truck operated by crews with Eastern Construction.

The procession’s many units also included spirited performances by local dance studios, many area emergency vehicles, several dogs escorted by the Jefferson County Humane Society, the marching bands of Catholic Central and Indian Creek high schools and a Polar Express float carrying members of Wintersville Council in pajamas (as the young riders of that cinematic train) or engineers.

The float and the Indian Creek band veered from the parade route onto Grove Street for the lighting of a large Christmas tree outside the Village Building.