Christmas in the Park to return to Follansbee soon

FOLLANSBEE -- As temperatures cool and minds start turning toward planning for the holidays, Follansbee Christmas in the Park will return with a variety of potential gifts as well as sights and sounds of the season ahead.

And that includes several life-size nutcrackers on loan from the Nelson family, creators of the Nutcracker Village in Steubenville, that will be displayed during the event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 14 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 15.

Bill Secrist and Stacey Williams, who co-chair the festival, said they are thankful for the support it has received from businesses and groups on both sides of the Ohio River, including the Nelsons and Trinity Health System, which is supporting efforts to publicize the event.

Laurie Labishak, marketing manager for Trinity, said the health care provider is happy to make more people aware of the annual event, which not only offers an enjoyable weekend at Follansbee Park but also raises money for local causes.

"I attended Christmas in the Park for the first time last year and now I plan to attend every year," she said.

Each year, trees and other areas of the park are decked out in Christmas ornaments created by local students, electric lights and other decorations and its grounds are filled with vendors selling food, seasonal decorations and other hand-made items, jewelry and other merchandise.

A disc jockey will again play Christmas music from various eras and Santa Claus will be on hand to meet with children at 1 p.m. on both days.

In addition to offering indoor restrooms, the Follansbee Community House nearby has served as a showcase for groups that are not vendors. Staff with Hood's Pharmacy and the Follansbee Pharmacy will return there on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, to offer flu shots.

Admission to the festival is free, and in addition to free parking at the Community House's lot, attendees may park this year in the former athletic field behind the former Follansbee Middle School field house in cooperation with Ewusiak Development, the property's owner.

When Secrist and former city Councilwoman Kathy Santoro co-founded the festival, they said they wanted it to give back to the community in some way.

And since it was established, vendor fees and proceeds from drawings held during the event have gone to helping the Follansbee R.E.A.C.H. Program, local children with special medical needs and other causes.

In recent years, it has supported scholarships for local students, and there are plans this year to award $500 scholarships to two vocational students at Brooke High School.

In addition to a 50-50 drawing and a drawing for a basket of items donated by the vendors, there will be a drawing for a Pittsburgh Steelers package that has been supplied by an anonymous donor over the years.

This year's package includes four tickets to the Dec. 3 Steelers-Cardinals game and a parking pass.

Secrist said about 75 vendors have been booked, but there is still space left for those that don't require electricity. Those interested may call (304) 527-0177.