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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Park

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK PLANNING — Finalizing details for the Follansbee Christmas in the Park festival are, seated, from left, Nina Meca, Kathy Santoro and Bill Secrist, co-chairs; and Dana Griffith: and back, Donna Sullivan, Lisa Chiodo, Stacy Williams, Betty Shaffer and Tom DiBattista. The planning committee also includes Terri Hicks, Paul DiGiacinto, Joe and Barbara Matello and Mildred “Wootsie’ DeSantis. The festival will be held Oct. 8-9 at Follansbee Park. - Warren Scott

FOLLANSBEE — Area residents wanting to do a little early Christmas shopping or just take a pleasant walk in the park while welcoming the fall and holiday seasons are invited to Follansbee Christmas in the Park.

In its 14th year, the festival returns to Follansbee Park from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 8 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 9.

Each year visitors find a variety of individuals and groups selling food, fall and holiday decorations and an assortment of other handmade items that would make unique Christmas presents.

Kathy Santoro, who co-chairs the event with Bill Secrist, said about 85 vendors have been booked and more may follow.

The park — behind Follansbee Middle School — will be decked out with lights and decorations made by pupils at Jefferson and Hooverson Heights primary schools. This year cheerleaders with the Follansbee Blue Waves city football league will be helping members of the Christmas in the Park committee with that task.

Disc jockeys Dave and Her will be playing a variety of Christmas music, through the weekend, Santa Claus will appear at 1 p.m. both days and a live nativity will be presented by the Weirton Christian Center and Follansbee Church of Christ.

Re-enactors from the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line will be camped at the park and share information about America’s colonial days.

Free parking and restrooms will be available at the nearby Follansbee Community House, where several community groups will share information and staff. The Friends of the Follansbee Library will hold a book sale there during the weekend, and Hood’s Pharmacy will provide flu shots from noon to 4 p.m. on Oct. 9.

In addition to serving as a fundraiser for local churches and other nonprofit groups, the festival includes drawings to raise money for the Follansbee R.E.A.C.H. Program, Anderson Children’s Home and a local child with special medical needs.

In addition to a 50-50 drawing, there will be drawings for the holiday basket, with gift cards and other items donated by area businesses; the vendor basket containing an item from each of the participating vendors; and a drawing for four tickets to the Jan. 1 Steelers-Browns game. Provided by an anonymous donor, the tickets are for box seats with access to the United Presbyterian Medical Center clubhouse and a parking pass to the Red Garage.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)

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