Merry & Bright: Your Ultimate Guide to Christmas in Marion County

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we have no qualms about going all out for Christmas! The holiday season has officially begun, and Marion County has countless holiday who-be what-ee events to get you in the Christmas spirit. 

Celebration of Lights

The Celebration of Lights is a beautiful Fairmont tradition that will get you excited for all the festivities to come! Drive through 1.3 miles of holiday lights illuminating adorable little scenes while listening to Christmas music. The lights hit a little different on walkers’ nights (every Wednesday evening). You have until Dec. 30!

The lights are used for more than festivities! Participate in the Reindeer Run on Dec. 12 and see the lights as you fly past them! Or see them as you walk through the park vying for the title of Holiday Glow Bowl Disc Golf Tournament winner on Dec. 5! 

18th Century Christmas tours

Immerse yourself in the traditions of yore! These interpreter-led tours will show you Christmas in a whole new light — candlelight that is! Choose between daytime and evening tours where you can learn how the holiday was celebrated during colonial times and hear live period-appropriate music. Learn, experience, live, and celebrate with a tour at the fort. Candlelight Tour – Nov. 25 and Dec. 2 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Daytime Christmas Tour – Nov. 26, Dec. 1 & 3 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Want more colonial Christmas? After the Christmas tour on Dec. 1, they’ll have traditional Christmas food cooking over an open hearth. Recipes available upon request! 

Christmas Parades

We all celebrate Christmas around here! And the best way to do it is with a parade, candy and Santa — he clears his schedule to make it to every single one!
Mannington parade: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1
Barrackville: 5 p.m. Dec. 2 (in conjunction with Christmas event listed below)
White Hall parade: 7 p.m. Dec. 7 (in conjunction with Christmas event listed below)
Rivesville parade: 4 p.m. Dec. 16 (in conjunction with Christmas event listed below)
Fairview parade: 5 p.m. Dec. 16

Barrackville Christmas in Our Town 

By Dec. 1 the town is decked with holly! After the street pole decorating concludes, the town looks magical and perfect for the craft fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 2. It’s a small town where they won’t let you go hungry; get some Christmas chili while you shop! It should keep you warm enough for the Christmas parade and for the grand finale: Christmas fireworks!

Christmas in White Hall 

Come for the parade, stay for the after event with food vendors, mobile bakery, hot chocolate and coffee, Christmas wreath vendors, music and pictures with Santa! Come by after the parade Dec. 7. 

Hometown Christmas Market

Before you start your Christmas shopping, get in the Christmas spirit with the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6 p.m. Dec. 7. Warm up with a hot chocolate station, hear Christmas tunes from the Madrigals and watch the tree lighting. 

Then, get all your Christmas shopping done in one go! Remember the shopping scene from The Grinch? It’s like that but scaled back just a tad. More than 50 delicious, unique and impressive vendors will have plenty to choose from to get those special holiday gifts for those special people in your life. Don’t miss out on Chocolatecheery Confections, Bubbles Biscuits & Bones, Dirt Road Endeavors, and The Pretty Pickle to name a few. Shop with us from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat., Dec. 9.

Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival

When it’s Christmas season in Fairmont, everyone is Italian! This street fair keeps getting bigger and bigger! Enjoy all kinds of food vendors from Biselli Foods and Nonno Carlo’s to Flippin Delights and Drifter Doughnuts. Come downtown from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 to experience delicious food and live music. 

Psssst… you can get a taste of the feast the day before during the Christmas Market! There’s a secret event called Taste of the Feast from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 8.

Coal Miners Appreciation Day 

The Feast is all things Italian American, like mining! Stop by Arts & Antiques Marketplace from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 9 celebrate coal mining heritage, learn about our mining history, and hear stories of miners and their families.

Greenery Bazaar 

Find beautiful items to freshen up your homes this Christmas season at this fragrant and festive event! Hosted by the West Augusta Historical Society, the 2023 Greenery Bazaar will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 8-9. You can buy all kinds of wreaths, Hamilton Round Barn and Price-Higgins Log Cabin ornaments and more! 

Holiday House Tea

Get a little fancy this holiday season with Tea at the Fleming Mansion. Enjoy tea, cookies and tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 9. Almost every big, beautiful room will be decorated for Christmas. Tickets are $10 and sold at the door.

Winter at Woodlawn

Take yourself back in time to the 1920’s. Woodlawn Cemetery is an historic place where Fairmont’s founding fathers are buried. Stop by between 12 and 3 p.m. Dec. 9 to see the Superintendent’s House up close and enjoy gingerbread cookies from a 1920’s recipe. Like ‘em? Buy the Ladies of Woodlawn Cookbook! 

Rivesville’s Christmas Spectacular

Rivesville is going all out for Christmas this year! Shop at the holiday craft and vendor show starting at 9 a.m. Dec. 16 with entertainment from Rivesville Elementary / Middle School.

After the parade at 4 p.m., get in line to see Santa, warm up with hot cocoa and have a couple Christmas cookies.

Stone House Lavender 

Still haven’t found that perfect gift? Stop by the Stone House Lavender gift shop from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. any Saturday. Holidays have you stressed out? Get a gift for yourself! Relax with pillow sprays, lip scrubs, lotions, bath melts, and more all made from the lavender they grow in the field.

Great Pepperoni Roll Drop on NYE

Once the gift giving season has ended, continue celebrating with us! Ring in 2024 with Mannington’s 4th Annual New Years’ Eve Great Pepperoni Roll Drop! Live music, games, beer gardens, fire puts, food vendors make for the perfect New Years Eve party. The fun starts at 7 p.m. Dec. 31 and the Raising of the Roll will be at 9 p.m. The giant pepperoni roll will begin dropping at 11:59 p.m.

It’s pretty obvious at this point that Marion County loves the holiday season, winter, Christmas, lights, music, gifts, and anything that has to do with Christmas. Come love it with us! You know you’ll always be welcome here with holiday cheer!