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ARNOLDSBURG — The West Virginia Molasses Festival Queens will be holding their inaugural Christmas Festival at the Arnoldsburg Community Building this weekend to celebrate the upcoming holiday season.
“We wanted to continue what the county was doing alongside Grantsville’s Christmas festivities,” said West Virginia Molasses Festival Pageant Director Kelly Collins.
Starting Friday, the festival will open with 15 vendors as well as concessions for those attending. There will also be a fresh-cut Christmas tree lot, with hot chocolate and sugar cookies available.
Friday’s activities include the lighting of the festival’s Christmas tree, which was decorated by the local schools in Calhoun County; wagon rides; an ugly Christmas sweater contest; and a viewing of the movie “Annabelle’s Wish,” about a young calf who aspires to learn how to fly and become one of Santa’s reindeer.
Activities continue Saturday with wagon rides and Reindeer Games, a variety of festival games for all ages to enjoy, as well as the Arnoldsburg Christmas Festival Parade. The parade marshal is none other than the jolly man himself, Santa Claus. After the parade ends, kids are welcome to come and visit with Santa and special guests Cindy Lou Who and the Grinch.
The West Virginia Molasses Festival Queens will also be in attendance during the duration of the festival including Queen Sofia Colon, Mrs. Queen Megan Nestor, Teen Queen Madison Burnside, Pre-Teen Queen Gwen Sampson and Junior Miss Queen Thiara Brennemen.
“We just hope that we have a good turnout,” Collins said. “And we hope that everyone enjoys themselves.”
More information and registration for events is available on the WV Molasses Festival Pageant Facebook Page.
Schedule of events
FRIDAY
* 11 a.m.: Vendors open
* 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Concessions open
* 2 p.m.: Christmas tree lot opens (hot cocoa and sugar cookies available)
* 5 p.m.: Christmas tree lighting
* 5 p.m.: Wagon rides
* 6 p.m.: Christmas Movie, “Annabelle’s Wish”
* 7 p.m.: Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest
SATURDAY
* 10 a.m.: Vendors open
* 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Concessions open
* 10 a.m.: Christmas tree lot opens (hot cocoa and sugar cookies available)
* 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Reindeer Games
* 3-5 p.m.: Wagon Rides
* 4:30-5:30 p.m.: Parade Lineup (Arnoldsburg Storage Unit)
* 6 p.m.: Parade Begins
* 6:30-8 p.m.: Wagon Rides and Reindeer Games
* 6:30 p.m.: Santa (after parade, main building by the fireplace)
Gretchen Dowler can be reached at [email protected].