Santa and an elf-eared helper appear in their sleigh, pulled by a tiny Toys for Tots truck, to provide a happy ending for the 2023 Parkersburg Christmas Parade. (File Photo)

PARKERSBURG — A number of holiday activities will kick off this weekend in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

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The Holiday Lights Parade in Belpre is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday on Washington Boulevard from Belpre High School to Howes Grove Park.

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The Merry-Etta Christmas Parade will be 6 p.m. Saturday on Front Street in Marietta. The evening holiday parade will include floats, dance routines, carolers, and much more, all complete with festive Christmas lights.

The Grinch’s popularity had him appearing with numerous units in the 2023 Parkersburg Christmas Parade, seemingly all at the same time. In this case, he apparently came to catch the next Whoville Bus, driven by YMCA staff and following right behind him. (File Photo)

The 2024 Merry-etta Christmas Parade theme is “Frosty and Friends” and organizers invite area nonprofits, businesses, civic groups, interest groups and more to participate in this evening, lighted parade.

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In Williamstown, the annual Williamstown Lighted Parade will be 6 p.m. Monday on Highland Avenue. Following the parade, the annual Christmas Tree lighting will be around 7 p.m. at the Williamstown Municipal Building.

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The Castle on Fourth Street in Marietta will be holding Victorian Christmas tours on several dates in December, including Thursday, Dec. 5, from 7-8 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 12, from 7-8 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 14, from 7-8:30 p.m.

A Nemesis Shrine motorized unit is shown in parade formation at the 2023 Vienna Holly Days Christmas parade. (File Photo)

The tours begin every 15 minutes and each tour lasts approximately one hour. Tickets are required, and advanced reservations are encouraged since time slots can sell out.

Visitors will enjoy the Christmas decorations of a Victorian home while learning the history and legends of many modern holiday traditions. During the tour, based on historical research, guides will take a look at how the Davis family celebrated Christmas in 1888. A Victorian Christmas will be brought to life through stories, displays and two art installations.

Tickets for non-members are $15 for adults, $12 for children under 13 and free for ages 5 and under.

There will also be a craft table for making handmade paper ornaments.

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The Caswell-Smith House at 1024 Juliana St. in Parkersburg is one of the homes featured in the annual Victorian Christmas Home Tour and Tea Dec. 6-8 in the Julia-Ann Square Historic District. (File Photo)

The annual Victorian Christmas Home Tour and Tea will be Dec. 6-8 in the Julia-Ann Square Historic District in Parkersburg.

Five historic homes in the district will be featured on the tour, decorated for the holiday season in a variety of styles, from period to modern.

Proceeds from the annual tour and other activities in the district throughout the year are used for improvements to the Historic District.

The homes featured this year will include: the Waite-Deberry/Busbey house at 1225 Ann St.; the McCreary-Garcia home at 924 Ann St.; the Caswell-Smith House at 1024 Juliana St.; the Leach-Nicholson house at 1214 Ann St.; and the Wade-Critzer house at 1034 Ann St.

The First United Methodist Church at 1001 Juliana St. will serve as the starting point for the tours.

Crowds attend the 2023 Winterfest event at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg. (File Photo)

On Friday, Dec. 6, there will be a guided tour and cocoa and cookies around a firepit at 6 p.m. The cost is $20 and attendees should arrive at the church by 5:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, the guided tours and teas will be 1 and 3 p.m., followed at 6 p.m. by the guided candlelight tour and tea. The cost is $20 and visitors should arrive at the church 30 minutes before their tour.

Visitors will be escorted by guides in period attire. During the tour, homeowners will share the history of their homes and guests will attend a Victorian Tea.

On Sunday, Dec. 8, the home tours will be self-guided from 1-5 p.m. and there is no tea. The cost is $15 with tickets available at any of the homes on the tour.

On both days, children 10 and under are admitted free accompanied by an adult.

Fireworks concluded the 2023 Winterfest event hosted by Downtown PKB at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg. (File Photo)

Tickets can also be purchased online at https://tinyurl.com/bddrhb5e. For information or reservations, contact 304-422-9861 or check out Julia-Ann Square on Facebook.

Julia-Ann Square is a community of approximately 125 homes, primarily built from the mid-1800s through 1900-1915. The entire district has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977. It features various architecture styles, including late Victorian, Colonial Revival and many examples of Queen Anne architecture.

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The 2024 Vienna Holly Days Christmas Parade will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, a.m. in Vienna.

This year’s theme is “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The parade will run along Grand Central Avenue from 47th to 23rd streets.

Lineup begins at 10 a.m., and the entry fee is at least one case of canned food for the Good Samaritan Center, which can be dropped off at a trailer at 47th Street off Grand Central Avenue.

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The 2024 Parkersburg Christmas Parade will be 2 p.m. Dec. 7 on Market Street in downtown Parkersburg.

This year’s theme is The Spirit of Christmas. Lineup will begin at 11 a.m.

Entry fees are a minimum of 15 nonperishable items to fill local food pantries. The entry with the most donations will be recognized with an award. Donations will be dropped off at registration.

Awards will be judged according to this year’s theme. First through third place awards will be given in both the commercial and non-commercial categories. Awards will be announced in the newspaper.

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Following both parades, Downtown PKB will host its annual Winterfest event at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Winterfest was created to draw people to downtown for an evening of family fun. Several downtown businesses will be open, along with various downtown museums and attractions.

The event is free and open to the public and will include shopping and dining at downtown businesses, music, a tree-lighting ceremony, a Christmas movie, train rides and more. Children can visit with Santa and participate in other kid-friendly activities. The Winterfest Tree Lighting Ceremony will be 6:15 p.m. and the evening will conclude with fireworks.

For the latest information, go to downtownpkb.com.

Wayne Towner can be reached at wtowner@newsandsentinel.com