It’s almost that time of year again when the city of Bluefield, West Virginia, is transformed by the spirit of the season into the state’s own official Christmas City of such great acclaim. With Hometown Christmas Week about to begin its fourth season and other longstanding community-wide celebrations slated to get underway in the coming weeks, Bluefield—alias Christmas City, West Virginia—offers all the enchantment of a magical escape to the North Pole while keeping all activities and attractions locally based.
The first matter of holiday business in Bluefield will be the Holiday of Lights 5K Race. Occurring at Bluefield City Park on November 23, the Holiday of Lights 5K Race provides runners (and walkers) with the perfect opportunity to see the annually acclaimed Holiday of Lights displays ahead of the official opening date. Preregistration is $10 for youths and $20 for adults. Day-of registration is $15 for youths and $25 for adults. Check-in time is between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., with the race event beginning promptly at 5:30 p.m. Click here to learn more or to sign up.
While the race is this Saturday, many consider the real Christmas City kickoff to be on November 25. This is when the annual lighting of the Animated Christmas Tree at Holiday of Lights will take place, promptly at 6 p.m. Come early at 5:30 p.m. to hear singing serenades by Bluefield Primary School students and be on the lookout for Santa Claus, who rumor has it will be making an appearance. Find out more about this kickoff event on the site link.
The formal opening for Holiday of Lights will be on November 28. A seasonal celebration dating back to 1996, this is Bluefield City Park’s premier holiday happening. Come out and drive through more than 1.5 million lighted Christmas displays, staring in awe, amazement, and bedazzlement beyond compare at all surrounding you. Holiday of Lights will run nightly through January 5. between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. (Sunday through Thursday) and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Friday and Saturday). You can learn more by clicking here.
The vast majority of main anchoring attractions and events, including the official Hometown Christmas Festival, will open on the evening of November 29. There’s the Mistletoe Market, which will run Fridays and Saturdays through December 21 and feature local craft vendors, food, live entertainment, and appearances by Santa.
This is also when the Ice Skating Rink at Bluefield City Park will begin its seasonal run on Fridays and Saturdays through December 28. Trolley rides and hayrides at Holiday of Lights will also commence at this time. Keep an eye out for an array of other activities and endeavors, including special appearances by the Grinch.
This year’s long-awaited Christmas City Parade will be on Saturday, December 7. Stepping off at College Avenue at 6 p.m., the procession route will follow a roundabout course ending at First Baptist Church. From fanciful floats to talented performers marching along, the parade is one of the community’s most commemorated highlights in part of the Hometown Christmas Festival. Forever the ultimate crowd-pleaser, it’s just as mutually enjoyable to watch as it is to take part in personally. Visit the link to learn more.
The Granada Theater on Commerce Street will also play host to a special two-night concert event. It’s the Chosen Road’s Hometown Christmas Concert live. Performances will be on December 13 and 14 only, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Click here to discover more about the event and to purchase tickets.
There’s only so much to say about Christmas City, West Virginia, and its many Hometown Christmas-featured follies. Come out and experience this most magical Christmas makeover transition and tradition for yourself. For a complete listing of events, directions, and other crucial information, visit the website at www.westvirginiaschristmascity.com.