WELLSBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce

Welcomes You Home For Christmas

Santa arrived on a sleigh sponsored by the Brooke County Review. His passengers included Taylor Thompson, 8, daughter of Virgil Thompson and Kim Cionni of Follansbee, Bailey Roberts, 8, daughter of Steve & Kristine Roberts of Follansbee, Brooke County Review employee Janet Knox and her son Joseph, 6, of Wellsburg. At the end of the parade, Santa lit the Christmas Tree on Town Square and then visited with area children.

The Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce invites you to join in this year’s Christmas Parade and light up night, on Friday, November 25 beginning at 4 p.m.

With the theme of “Welcome Home For Christmas” the parade encourages residents, former residents and those living in surrounding communities to enjoy the warm feeling of a small town for the holidays.

“We try to hold the parade the day after Thanksgiving each year so we can catch out of town family members of our residents while they’re visiting,” said Kristine Roberts, executive director of the Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a nice time to bring not only families but neighbors together in a festive setting. The parade brings out the kid in all of us!”

The Grand Marshall this year will be Bill Furioli, who was voted 2004 Citizen of The Year by Chamber of Commerce members. Others in the line up include dance studios, the Brooke High and Wellsburg Middle School bands, Main Street Bank and Wesbunco floats, the Tri-State Young Marines, the Osiris Shrine Temple Tin Lizzie Patrol, and the Applefest and Brooke County Fair queens. Santa will make his appearance this year on a horse drawn carriage sponsored by the Brooke County Review.

Immediately following the parade, Santa will help light up the tree on Town Square and will have candy to distribute to area children at that time. The Chamber asks that area businesses extend their hours that evening to accommodate shoppers and diners after the parade.

Those interested in participating in the parade, still have until November 22 to complete and return registration and release forms. To receive the forms, contact parade Chairperson Debbie Baker at 737-2294 (day) or 737-3063 (evenings) or Roberts at the Chamber office at 479-2115.

The Domino’s Pizza Delivery Express sleigh sparkled with decorations and white lights.

One of the few warm places along the route was the Short Creek Fire Department’s Smoke House.

Children and adults lined Town Square waiting for a chance to give their wish lists to the “Big Guy.” The Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce provided candy canes for all of the children.

The massive tree in the center of Town Square was lit immediately following Friday’s parade when Santa made his entrance. All of the ornaments were hand made by local school children.