Multiple holiday events announced for West Virginia's Christmas City
Nov. 8—BLUEFIELD — West Virginia's Christmas City is rolling out early plans for the holiday season.
All of the Christmas City activities in Bluefield will be held at Lotito Park this year due to the planned demolition work along the 400 block of the city's downtown. Despite the change in location, a number of Christmas City events have already been announced in recent days for this year's celebration.
On Tuesday, the city of Bluefield confirmed that an ice skating rink will once again be a part of the Christmas City fun. The skating rink will be located at Lotito Park with an admission fee of $5. It will be open on Thursdays through Saturdays from Nov. 24 through January 7.
The city also announced on the official West Virginia Christmas City website that a European Style Mistletoe Market will be held at city park. The market and select vendors will open November 24 and will run throughout the season Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from 6-9:30 pm. It will feature of number of unique items from a variety of vendors.
This is the third Christmas City celebration for Bluefield. The city garnered the "West Virginia Christmas City" designation in 2021, including the state and federal trademark for the holiday title.
In other activities planned for this month and December, the Holiday of Lights 5K challenge will be held Saturday, Nov. 18, at Lotito Park beginning at 5 p.m.
Also on Saturday, Nov. 18 and Sunday, Nov. 19, the Granada Theater will present a live performance of "Miracle on 34th Street."
Then on Monday, Nov. 20, at 6 p.m. a tree lighting ceremony will be held at city park where Santa Claus will make an appearance, according to Gabrielle Ponder, executive assistant to City Manager Cecil Marson.
On Thursday, Nov. 23, at 6 p.m. the 27th annual Holiday of Lights display will open at Lotito Park. This year's attraction will feature more than 1.3 million lights along with numerous holiday displays throughout the park, according to the city.
In other holiday events, the Christmas City Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. The route will begin at North Street and South Street facing College Avenue and end at First Baptist Church on College Avenue.
Then on Saturday, Dec. 9, Chosen Road's Hometown Christmas performance will be held at 7 p.m. at the Granada Theater in Bluefield.
In other holiday-themed events, a projection map at Bowen Field will once again be on display this year at the Holiday of lights from Nov. 21 through January 8, according to the Christmas City website. The projection map allows visitors to watch as Christmas Scenery dances along the side wall at Bowen Field each night.
Also returning this year will be trolley and hayrides at the Holiday of Lights each Saturday in December from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com
— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com. Follow him @BDTOwens
