BLUEFIELD — West Virginia’s Christmas City is looking for vendors and demonstrators to help with this year’s holiday celebration.
The city of Bluefield, which received the title of West Virginia’s Christmas City in 2021, is putting out an early call for vendors, demonstrators and others who will be needed to staff the Mistletoe Market at city park.
“We are West Virginia’s Christmas City,” Bluefield City Manager Cecil Marson said Thursday. “This is one of the biggest events we do each year. We really could use all of the help. It’s a big family event we do for the whole region. Please give us a call here at city hall and talk to Felicia Holcomb.”
Holcomb, administrative assistant to the city manager, said officials are looking for demonstrators and vendors to participate in this year’s Mistletoe Market, also commonly known as the Christmas Market. The market will be located at the Holiday of Lights display at city park. Participants also are needed for the city’s Christmas parade, which will be held on Dec. 6 at 5 p.m.
Holcomb said the city is looking for vendors dealing with Christmas trees, wood carving, forging, glass blowing and more. Anyone who would like more information or is interested in serving as a demonstrator or vendor can contact Holcomb at city hall at 304-327-2401, extension 2415 or Candy Sayers, who is director of public works for the city, at 304-327-2401, ext. 2490.
The Mistletoe Market will be open on Fridays and Saturdays beginning Nov. 28 and Nov. 29 followed by Dec. 5 and 6; Dec. 12 and 13; and Dec. 19, 20 and 21.
Last year the city had more than 20 different vendors at the Mistletoe Market, and officials hope to see even more participation this year.
Marson said this is the fourth year of the West Virginia Christmas City celebration in Bluefield.
But even before Bluefield was named as West Virginia’s Christmas City, the city had been putting on the giant Holiday of Lights display at city park for more than two decades.
Work already is underway on the giant Holiday of Lights display at city park, which this year will feature more than 1.4 million lights. City park will be closed to vehicles beginning Monday, Oct. 13, so that the public work crews with the city can prepare the giant lights show. But the park and its hiking trails will remain open to foot traffic during that time.
Marson said some Christmas City attractions also will be returning to the downtown area this year.
“Right now we are going to do the Christmas tree lighting downtown on the 400 block,” Marson said. “And our Bluefield Economic Development Authority is working with downtown businesses to decorate all of their businesses”
The city also is in need of floats, antique cars, vendors, clubs and other organizations to participate in the Bluefield Christmas Parade, which will be held on Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. Applications can be picked up at city hall and are due by Nov. 21.
Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com