CHRISTMAS EVENTS AHEAD — Among many teaming up for three Christmas events, including the Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade, are from left, Mayor Dan Dudley; Dan Day, chamber board member; Evan Cuomo, chamber treasurer; Dan Otto, chamber president; Paige Hashman of TEAM Ford Wellsburg; Eric Fithyan, the parade’s chairman; Lee-ann Conley of Assure America; Erica Cross of Cross Law Offices; and City Manager Steve Maguschak. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — In addition to the Christmas parade on Charles Street many have come to expect on the evening of Black Friday, the Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce has organized a couple of other events to help area residents and visitors ring in the holiday season.

Eric Fithyan, coordinator of the annual procession, gathered on the Town Square with other chamber leaders and city officials and representatives of local businesses to share details about it and the Christmas Marketplace and Colors of Christmas 5K Run-Walk.

Co-chaired by Paige Hashman and Monica Rotellini-Myers, the Christmas Marketplace will feature a variety of locally made items for sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 29 in the Wellsburg Banquet Hall on 12th Street.

Hashman said more than 30 vendors have been booked for the event, but there’s still space for more.

To book a space, call (724) 612-1418 or (304) 374-1136 or e-mail marketplaceewcoc @gmail.com.

Fithyan said the parade will begin at 4 p.m. that day, with a ribbon cutting near 23rd and Charles streets.

He said the grand marshal will be Tammy Hornick, who has organized the Brooke-Hancock Relay for Life for many years with her husband, Paul.

Fithyan added the theme will be “Colors of Christmas,” which ties in with the new 5K run-walk to be held the next day.

He explained participants in the race will be encouraged to wear white so powder in Christmas colors may be thrown on them when they pass certain points.

The registration fee is $25 for those who register by Friday, and T-shirts will go to the first 100 who do. Registration may be done by visiting www.RunSignUp.com or printing the application found on the chamber’s website at www.wellsburgchamber.com/bulletin-board.

The registration fee will be $30 after Friday and at 9:15 a.m. on the day of the race, which will start outside St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1300 Charles St.

For information about the parade or the race, call (304) 737-3552.

Fithyan said appearing in the parade will be Santa and Mrs. Claus, who will meet with children at the Town Square near Charles Street afterward. There also will be actviities for children.

He expressed thanks to several local businesses that have agreed to be sponsors for the parade.

They are Main Street Bank, Cross Law Offices, WTOV-TV, Event Aesthetics, Assure America, Chambers and James Funeral Homes, Merco Marine, WesBanco, William E. Watson and Associates, Alex E. Paris Contracting and Cipoletti Plumbing.

Chamber President Dan Otto expressed thanks to the many businesses involved and to Fithyan, Hashman and Rotellini-Myers for organizing the events.

“It’s our hope that through these additional events, we can bring even more people into Wellsburg,” he said.