Photo provided VOLUNTEER MEMBERS of Project Forward, a nonprofit economic redevelopment organization in Martins Ferry, are getting ready for Winter Fest 2018 with the decorating the new Christmas Tree on the corner lot of Fifth and Hanover streets. Decorating the tree, from left, are Linda Surano, Chris Cleary, Mary Velez, Holly Eckert, Lainie Surano, Betty Suto, Melissa Yeso, Karin Janiszewski, the Rev. William Webster and Denise Shanks. The Tree Lighting will take place following the Martins Ferry Christmas parade on Friday.

MARTINS FERRY — The second annual Winterfest — slated 4-10 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday — is chock full of new ways for adults and children to be entertained during the two-day affair.

On Friday, music will be played by Shannon Canterbury from 4-6 p.m. at the gazebo at Hanover and Fifth streets.

Starting at 6:30 p.m. is the city’s annual Christmas parade. The parade, organized annually by the Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department, is sponsored by Wheeling Hospital.

WinterFest, however, is sponsored by East Ohio Regional Hospital and Project Forward.

Following the parade, at about 7:30 p.m., the city’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony is set at the corner of Fifth and Hanover streets. Special guests during the ceremony will include Martins Ferry Police Officer John Holmes and his K-9 partner Ecko; Martins Ferry Police Chief John McFarland; and Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Chase Watts, who is a Martins Ferry High School graduate who heads up the Books With Badges program at local schools.

The Easy Street band is slated to play from 8-10 p.m. Friday.

There also will be multiple food vendors, and a beer wagon featuring a variety of brews will be site on both Friday and Saturday.

Saturday’s entertainment kicks off with a Jingle Run for children 12 years old and younger at 10:30 a.m. at the Martins Ferry Public Library on Fifth Street. Registration begins at 10 a.m.

The Rev. William Webster, pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church and a Project Forward member, is very excited about a new entertainer for this year’s event. Beatlemania, a Beatles cover band, is slated to perform from 8-10 p.m. Saturday on a large stage on the lot near the Hanover Street gazebo.

Webster said the band will kick off its show by portraying the Beatles from the 1964 Ed Sullivan Show. The group will take a break and then come back as the Beatles from the Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

During their break a fireworks display will be shown.

“It’s going to be bigger than last year and better. We’re anticipating, because of the Beatles coming, a large crowd on Saturday night,” he said. “We’re fortunate to get them. They’ve played all over the country, and it’s nice we’re having them right here in our backyard.”

Also on Saturday there will be a large tent set up at the gazebo lot where people can watch the Ohio State vs. Michigan football game. There will be heaters inside to help ward off the chill, and burn barrels situated around the lot to also help warm attendees.

During the game’s halftime, a Cookie Eating Contest will be held on Fifth Street. There is no fee to participate, but only about 13 people will be permitted into the contest. The winner will get a T-shirt that says, “I lost my cookies at the 2018 Winterfest Cookie Eating Contest.”

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Santa Claus will be at the Christmas tree to visit with children. Parents can also take their child’s photo with Santa.

There will also be an ice skating rink for children to use near the gazebo, in addition to a lane for the sport of curling. Winter-themed games for children, made by Jim Albert, also will be featured. Webster said while there is a fee for using the ice skating rink, there is no fee for the games by Albert or to attend and enjoy Winterfest.

“It’s a friendly, safe place to relax and not have to worry about anything,” Webster said of the festival’s atmosphere. “Come down and hang out. The weather is supposed to be in the 50s.”