WHEELING — Wheeling’s Main Street Bank Fantasy In Lights Parade celebrates its 40th year in 2025 with a return to its original route and an emphasis on nostalgia.

The parade is set for 6 p.m. on Nov. 21. The parade will begin on Market Street at West Virginia Northern Community College, then proceed down to 10th Street before taking a left down to Main Street. The route then proceeds back up Main Street before concluding in front of the property of parade sponsor Main Street Bank.

Recent years have seen the parade go in an opposite direction and proceed south through Center Wheeling before making right onto Main Street and proceeding down Main Street back to Main Street Bank.

But Wheeling’s downtown streetscape project is expected to be completed by the date of the parade, permitting it to return to the original route.

The idea of this year’s parade is the return to a neighborhood community atmosphere at Christmas in downtown Wheeling, according to Jodi Carder, chairman of the Main Street Bank Fantasy In Lights Christmas Parade.

“It’s not so much that we’re going to do anything new and different,” she explained. “We want people to experience the old fashioned feeling where they come downtown and see their neighbors … and maybe feel a little nostalgic.”

While there, people will see not just new streets but also some new buildings and others that have been remodeled and have architectural changes, Carder added.

She indicated there are plans for special guests at the parade,

“We are not announcing anything yet, but there is a lot in the works,” Carder continued. “This year is going to be our 40th anniversary, and we’re super excited.

“This year we’re due for some good weather. Now that we have the new fancy streets, we think it’s going to be a great year.”

The parade will be able to accommodate as many as 100 participants, and applications are presently available on-line at www.wheelingchamber.com.

“Just download these and fill them out,” Carder said. “We are hoping we get lots of return entries, as well as new entries.”

She noted the parade always has had a lot of support from the community. Some businesses and organizations have come forward to feed the guests or entertain in the parade

“It will be a great holiday season for the Ohio Valley,” Carder said.

She applauded the effort by local organizations to jointly coordinate an effort to purchase new LED snowflake lights for placement along the parade route. Those joining in the effort were the city of Wheeling, Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce, Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED), Wheeling-Ohio County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), Wheeling Heritage, West Liberty University’s Department of Media and Liberal Arts and the chamber’s parade committee.

The last couple of years when there was inclement weather – but people still turned out for the parade – convinced Carder people do enjoy and look forward to the event.

“The smiles of all the people watching and participating are unstoppable,” she said. “They are a special type of parade goer. They go out in rain or shine.”