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Christmas spirit shines downtown

If you have not visited downtown Steubenville yet this holiday season, Saturday would be a good time to do so.

There will be plenty of things going on that will help to reassure you that the magic of the Christmas season is alive and well.

Fourth Street will come alive beginning at noon, when the city presents its annual Sights and Sounds of Christmas: Nutcracker Magic parade. Sponsored by Eastern Gateway Community College, the parade will feature area bands, dance groups, homecoming queens, colorfully decorated floats, and, of course, Santa Claus.

The grand marshals of the event will be Mark Nelson and his family, who have helped drive the success of the Nutcracker Village and Advent Market in Fort Steuben Park. The attraction that started last year with 35 nutcrackers has expanded to more than 100 life-sized creations. The holiday additions have helped bring a new sense of vitality not only to the corner of Third and Market streets, but throughout the downtown area as well.

Those who attend the parade are encouraged to visit the village and market, which are presented by Trinity Health System, after the parade. The chalets that make up the market offer gifts, candy, crafts and food will be open from noon to 9 p.m. Visitors will be able to take hay rides or the Holley Trolley around the downtown and visit locations such as the Jefferson County Historical Museum and the Grand Theater.

There also will be live entertainment from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fort Steuben Park.

Thousands of residents from across the Tri-State Area already have visited the market and village, which opened on Nov. 22 during the city’s tree-lighting event. While the market is scheduled to close Dec. 18, the nutcrackers will be on display through Jan. 8.

Both of those attractions, plus other events like Saturday’s Christmas parade, are helping to bring new vitality to the spirit and wonder of the season.

We hope you will make the time to experience that for yourself.

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