WINTERSVILLE — Volunteers with the village and the Wednesdays in Wintersville street fair will present a weekend of Christmas fun for residents and visitors next weekend.

Joel John, who heads the Wednesdays in Wintersville committee, noted as a precaution against any inclement weather that might occur, the group moved all of its Winter Weekend activities indoors last year with the cooperation and assistance of Wintersville Methodist Church.

John said in addition to the church’s leaders and congregation, the group is working this year with the Wintersville Beautification Committee, the Wintersville Woman’s Club and Mosti Funeral Home, the event’s sponsor, to offer a craft show, activities for children and live music on Dec. 6 from noon to 6 p.m. at the church’s Center for Hope.

The center is a large social hall that includes a stage and adjacent gym, where bounce houses will be set up for children to enjoy.

The Wintersville Beautification Committee has arranged for Santa Claus to appear at the event and will offer photos of children visiting with him in return for a donation of the donor’s choice to support the group’s efforts.

“We also will have a solid four hours of entertainment,” said John.

He said representatives of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County will be reading Christmas stories at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., while Faire May will be performing traditional music with a Christmas theme at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

The trio’s melodic vocals and strings have made them a popular attraction at Steubenville’s First Fridays on Fourth Street.

Also taking to the stage will be an ensemble of Indian Creek choir students at 2:30 p.m. and the Catholic Central Junior High School Band at 4 p.m.

John said members of the Wintersville Woman’s Club will help to welcome visitors to the craft show, which will offer a variety of locally produced Christmas and other merchandise as well as some home-made sweet treats.

“We’ll have a lot of vendors so it’s a good opportunity to get a Christmas gift or two,” he said.

Members of the church will be serving up cocoa and cookies in the hall, where attendees will find a display of nativities.

John said like the exhibits held during Wednesdays in Wintersville during the summer, area residents are invited to lend their nativities for the display.

“We don’t keep them. We’ll give them back after the event,” he stressed.

John said last year’s display included more than 20 nativities of various styles, materials and origins.

He said area residents also can help to light up Wintersville for the holidays while supporting an important cause.

For $5, they may sponsor one of many luminaria to be placed along Main Street, with proceeds going to the Trinity Emergency Assistance Relief Fund at Trinity Health System’s Teramana Cancer Center.

The fund is used to aid patients at the center with various expenses such as utility bills, mortgage payments and transportation.

John said the candles can be sponsored in honor of any loved one, not only cancer patients. He noted some just like to offer a Christmas message through them.

John said more durable plastic bags will be used to protect the candles, replacing paper bags that took a beating from last year’s high winds.

He said after that occurred, many in the community offered positive suggestions and even help, and he greatly appreciated that.

Last year, nearly 400 luminaria lined Main Street from Ferguson’s House of Furniture to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

This year, John hopes to attain sponsors for at least 200 of them.

They may be “purchased” in advance at Grit Gear Apparel and Exquisite Creations by Joel and at the latter business on that day.

John said there are plans to have a few food trucks outside, while local businesses have been encouraged to hold open houses or special events in conjunction with the event.

On Dec. 7 at 4 p.m., everyone is invited to return to Wintersville for its Christmas parade, which is organized by village staff and volunteers.

Past parades have included local school marching bands, colorful floats, energetic dance troupes and other units that have made their way along Main Street from Ferguson’s House of Furniture.

The lighted snowflake- and star-shaped decorations hung above the street for many years were installed this year by representatives of Off the Wall Signs.