LIGHTING UP THE NIGHT — Representatives of fireworks sponsors for this year’s Weirton Christmas Parade, organized by the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce, include, from left, front, Mary Lou Orecchio of Mountaineer Casino; Lonna Flowers and Deidra Edwards of Hancock County Savings Bank; back, Mike Sherbak of DeeJay’s BBQ Ribs and Grille; Jason Littleton of Window World; and Nick Snodgrass, of Nick’s Auto. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — Music will fill the air Saturday night as the Weirton Christmas Parade makes its way down Main Street.

Presented by the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce, the holiday festivities this year will carry a theme of “Sounds of the Season.”

“We wanted to come up with something different, yet give participants a free rein on what music they could have,” explained Brenda Mull, president of the chamber, while discussing the development of this year’s theme. “There will be a lot of music, not only from the bands and dance schools, but the floats.”

Set to step off at 6 p.m., the parade will be guided along the route this year by representatives of the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center, which was selected to serve as this year’s honorary grand marshal.

Students from the career center, under the direction of carpentry instructor Thomas Davis, have spent much of this year rehabilitating aspects of the Weirton light display placed throughout the holiday season along Three Springs Drive, reconditioning the framing and running new wiring and lights to keep it glowing for years to come.

“They’ve been so helpful with getting our Christmas light display redone,” Mull said.

Parade sponsors are Nick’s Towing, Collision Center, Auto Sales and Rebuilders; West Virginia Northern Community College; and WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center.

The parade will travel along Main Street, beginning at the Virginia Avenue intersection and ending at Marland Heights Road, with entries covered in lights, all helping to usher Santa Claus into Weirton.

“We have about 70 entries,” noted Anne Clements, the chamber’s member services and program director, explaining those include three local marching bands, four dance schools, and more than a dozen large floats, along with a variety of vehicles and other entries.

It all concludes with a fireworks display, supported by DeeJay’s BBQ Ribs and Grille, Hancock County Savings Bank, Mountaineer Casino Resort, Nick’s Auto, Window World, and Professional Tire, to be set off from behind the Millsop Community Center and visible from various parts of the city’s downtown.

Those participating in the parade must be at the lineup position, located at Virginia Avenue, no later than 4 p.m., while spectators are advised to be downtown by 5 p.m.