T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK A Christmas Tree is once again erected in front of the Belmont County Courthouse. It is scheduled to be lit Nov. 24.

There is no shortage of festive events planned for the coming holiday and winter seasons.

In Belmont County, several events are becoming holiday traditions.

“The Christmas and winter events bring a sense of community to everyone in the valley,” Brooke Robinson, digital marketing manager for Belmont County Tourism, said.

She said several fun, family-oriented activities are coming up.

St. Clairsville residents will have the season’s cheer during the 2019 Belmont Savings Bank Christmas Parade at 4 p.m. Nov. 24 through the business district, culminating with the tree-lighting. A Christmas tree already has been raised in front of the courthouse. The St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce is heavily involved.

While communities are counting the days until Thanksgiving, other celebrations already are occurring, such as this past Saturday’s Powhatan Point Christmas in the Village.

“There’s always a nice turnout. It’s actually the 14th annual Christmas in the Village,” Robinson said.

Black Friday weekend often is seen as the kickoff for the Christmas holiday, with one event being held Black Friday itself, Nov. 29, through Nov. 30.

“There’s Winterfest, which is in Martins Ferry,” Robinson said, adding the festival has been a popular one, including crafts, a beer garden and a tree-lighting. “Last year was a great turnout.”

The Move Makers out of Pittsburgh, who played at the city strawberry festival, will be the featured band.

“I’m sure visitors will be looking forward to that,” she said.

The Rev. William Webster of Grace Presbyterian Church is a key organizer and said the portable ice skating rink again will be available for free to children on that Friday and Saturday.

“During our event there will be food trucks and vendors and crafters as well as Santa Clause and Clifford the Dog, a Jingle Bell Run for the kids as well as games for them. There is still room for more vendors,” Webster said, adding that festivities begin at 2 p.m. Nov. 29, with the tree lighting at 5 p.m. on the corner lot at Fifth and Hanover streets as soon as the parade is over

The Belmont County Victorian Mansion in Barnesville will also host the Magic of Christmas tours.

“There are various dates on that, but it starts on Nov. 22 at 5 p.m.,” Robinson said. “It’s just a tour of the museum. It’s going to be decorated for Christmas. There’s 26 rooms, so each room will have their own decorative theme. That goes to Dec. 22.”

Cathryn Stanley, office manager at the tourism center, said the holiday tea hosted at the mansion is another popular attraction. It is slated 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6.

“They get a lot of people in for that,” she said. “You have to make reservations.”

“Those are our main three winter events,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of 20- to 30-year-old women and moms coming in and looking for stuff to do and visiting our Facebook page.”

The tourism council is also operating a Facebook contest, with the prize being a gift certificate from the Deluxe Toy & Hobby toy store in Martins Ferry.

“We are asking our Facebook followers to tell us their favorite childhood toy,” Robinson said.

It is a five-week contest that started this past Monday. Every week a winner will be selected and receive a $200 gift card.

In Jefferson County, the Steubenville Nutcracker Village & Advent Market will be held in Fort Steuben Park from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. This is the fifth such event.

Judy Bratten, executive director of Historic Fort Steuben & Visitor Center said more than 180 life-sized nutcrackers will be featured. She said all are cleverly designed and locally produced and depict professions, literary characters, and famous figures from history and entertainment such as Dorothy of Oz, Sherlock Holmes, Johnny Appleseed, Rosie the Riveter, John Glenn, a Buccaneer, a dentist, and Clara and the Mouse King from the Nutcracker ballet.

While most of the nutcrackers are on display along walkways in the park, some of them will be found at the historic downtown and the courthouse, as well as shops and storefronts along Fourth Street. A scavenger hunt map with the location of all the nutcrackers can be obtained at the Visitor Center. The nutcrackers are designed and manufactured by Nelson’s of Steubenville.

On weekends, an Advent Market surrounding the Christmas tree is open from 3-9 p.m. Other Christmas fun includes a gingerbread house competition and visits from Santa Claus. Each weekend during the season will feature a special attraction including a blessing of Advent wreaths on Dec. 1, a Children’s Lantern Parade on Dec. 6 and a joint high school drum line on Dec. 8.

In Harrison County, the annual Christmas Parade is at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 in Cadiz. Janet Fenstamaker, director of Harrison County Visitors Center, said it is expected to be a popular event, weather permitting.

She said the village of Jewett is also holding its 51st Craft Festival on Nov. 30 at the firehouse.

“That’s a big deal,” she said.