The annual St. Albans Festival of Lights will resume for the 36th year this month with a pair of “sneak peek†preview events of the holiday displays beforehand at St. Albans City Park.
Walking tours of the outdoor holiday electrical extravaganza are slated for 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26. On Wednesday, Nov. 27, free hayrides will be taken through the decorated park at 931 Observatory Drive in St. Albans from 6 to 8 p.m.
The Festival of Lights opens officially for vehicular traffic on Friday, Nov. 29. The displays will be open each night to the public from 6 to 9 p.m. through Thursday, Dec. 26 (excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when the festival is closed).
Also for the holiday season, the St. Albans Parks and Recreation Department will have Santa’s House open to visitors from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 29 through Dec. 23 at St. Albans Roadside Park, off MacCorkle Avenue in St. Albans.
For more information and updates, visit the St. Albans Parks and Recreation Department’s Facebook page or call 304-722-4625.
December holiday events
Several holiday activities have been announced for December as well.
- The Kanawha Valley Railroad Association will host its Christmas Open House Dec. 7-8, 14-15 and 21-22 at Coonskin Park in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
The free exhibits will be shown at the KVRA clubhouse at the end of the main road through the park.
Open House hours will be 6 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, 3 to 8:30 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays during the December dates listed.
Those who want to get all aboard the festivities prior to the December dates can tour the KVRA and its holiday model train collection from 3 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29; 3 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30; and 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1.
A raffle will be held for a complete Polar Express train set.
- A Christmas tree lighting ceremony will begin on 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, at the Mound in South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
- The Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department will host a Breakfast with Santa (along with an appearance of the Grinch) from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the fire station, 119 Tompkins Ave. in Glasgow.
The breakfast is free, but tickets are required to attend. Visit Glasgow Town Hall before Dec. 2 or contact Chief Marty Blankenship at 304-421-5101 for tickets.
- From 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 7, with helpers the Alum Creek Alliance, Santa Claus will share cookies and milk (and pose for photos) at the Washington District Community Center, 1313 Sandplant Road in South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä. The program is free.
- The Town of Marmet will host a holiday dinner for the community from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, at Marmet Elementary School, 408 94th St. in Marmet.
Deliveries will be available; call or text Debbie Skeens at 304-546-2481 to place orders.
- The fourth annual Beni Kedem Oriental Band Breakfast with Santa will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Beni Kedem Shrine, 100 Quarrier St. in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
Santa will be on site for visits and photographs from 9 to 11 a.m.
Tickets are $10 or $20 for adults and free for children ages 11 and younger (one or two children per paid adult is requested). Advance tickets are available at benikedem.yapsody.com.
Proceeds will benefit the Beni Kedem Oriental Band and the Ladder of Smiles, a charity of the Shriners Children’s-Shriners Hospitals.
- The ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Lighted Boat Parade and Toys for Tots event will get underway at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The illuminated vessels will line up on the Elk River behind CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital, while ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Police Department and the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Fire Department will have vehicles in front of the hospital for “The Lights of Love.â€
Boats will head from the Elk to the Kanawha River at approximately 6:30 p.m. and cruise the Kanawha to the vicinity of the state Capitol Complex before returning.
Toy drop-off stations will be set up along the Levee on Kanawha Boulevard, East, for Toys for Tots holiday distribution.
- womanSong will present its annual winter concert, “Comfort and Joy,†at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Christ Church United Methodist, 1221 Quarrier St. in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
Tickets are $10. Donations of nonperishable food will be accepted at the door as well.
Christmas parades
- The City of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä’s “Neon Wonderlandâ€-themed Christmas parade will step off at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, on Kanawha Boulevard.
- The City of Dunbar’s Christmas parade will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6.
- The City of Montgomery’s 2024 “Christmas Villages†Christmas Parade will also start at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6.
- The South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Christmas parade will begin at noon on D Street in the city.
- The 2024 St. Albans Christmas Parade will get underway at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7.
- The 2024 Clendenin Christmas Parade will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. The parade is part of Christmas on Main holiday activities that will be held on Main Street in the town from 4 to 8 p.m., including a tree-lighting ceremony at 7 p.m.
- “The Hurricane Polar Express†will be the 2024 theme for the City of Hurricane’s Christmas parade, which will begin at noon on Saturday, Dec. 14. The parade will start at Hurricane Bridge Park on Midland Trail and continue to the First Baptist Church of Hurricane on Main Street.
- The 2024 Town of Belle Christmas Parade will start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14. Cookies with Santa will be served at Belle Town Hall, following the parade.
- The second annual Campbells Creek Cares Christmas Parade will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14. Line-up will start at 6 p.m. at the lot across from Larobi’s Pizza (the former Dairy Winkle site) on Campbells Creek Drive. The parade will continue to Ken Ellis Memorial Park. Float entries are free, and prizes will be awarded.
