November Is Filled With Upbeat Music, Patriotic Events And Christmas Merriment

Winter is coming, but Marion County keeps November warm with upbeat music, patriotic events and Christmas merriment.

 

 

Upcoming events

Looking for some mountain music? Join the award-winning Brasshoppers for a repertoire that ranges from Brahms to Gershwin on Nov. 13 at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church from 3 – 6 pm. Or, every Saturday, the Sagebrush Round-Up dishes out catchy country music, homemade meals and hospitality. They also have the largest acoustic guitar in West Virginia! Bring a camera and strike a pose.

 

 

 

 

 

Ever seen an owl small enough to fit in your palm? Joey Herron could use some help banding these tiny birds of prey Nov. 4-5 at Valley Falls State Park. Email him at wvsawwhet@yahoo.com to let him know you’re interested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas is coming!

Our bright and bold Celebration of Lights kicks of the holiday season Nov. 25 and runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5 – 9 pm through Dec. 27! Make some hot chocolate and drive through 1.3 miles of cheerful Christmas decorations at Morris Park. Need a little inspiration for Christmas decorating? The Holiday Historic Home Tour showcases our county’s most exquisite houses. Get advanced tickets at the Marion County Museum.

 

 

 

 

 

Nov. 27 through Dec. 3, Pricketts Fort gets dressed up for the holidays, too, during its 18th-Century Christmas Tour. Join costumed interpreters and discover how settlers celebrated on the frontier. For a more romantic evening, reserve tickets to the 18th-Century Christmas Dinner and Tour on Nov. 26.  Sit down to a catered dinner, take a mesmerizing candlelit tour and let the spirit of the season sink in. Cost of the dinner is $25

 

 

 

 

The Southeast Tourism Society named the Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival as a “Top 20 Winter Event.” On Dec. 10, from 11am to 5pm browse the market, dine on piping hot Italian cuisine, enjoy traditional live music and more! You can even learn some authentic Old-World cooking at the Festival Cucina class on Dec. 9 from 7 – 9 pm at the First Presbyterian Church. Tickets are $25.

 

The annual Christmas Parade will begin at 5 pm and end at Palatine Park just in time to kick off the “iceless” ice skating rink. This year’s  rink will be at Palatine Park and will be open weekends through January and is free. Bring your own skates or use ones provided.

 

 

Honor

Join servicemen and women Nov. 11 at 1 pm for the Veterans Day Parade. The procession will march from Palatine Park through downtown Fairmont and conclude with a short ceremony at Veteran’s Square Plaza.

 

We’ll also honor Fairmont native Ensign James Maddox, a WWII hero who died 77 days after his ship, the SS Zaandam, was torpedoed by a u-boat. His optimism, religious faith and cheerful demeanor steadied the survivors who stayed with him on a raft.

The First Baptist Church in Fairmont will dedicate a bench in his memory at 7 p.m., followed by music and memorabilia. And at the WV Folklife Center, lecturers will share Maddox’s story and go into depth about the Naval Armed Guard on Nov. 13.

From 1 – 4 pm on Dec 10, the Fleming Mansion will also have a moving ceremony in conjunction with their Tea With A Twist.  There is a $5 donation to enjoy the Italian cookies and tour the holiday splendor of the mansion. You can also browse The Life of James Show Maddox Display and hear the soulful “Angelica” a cappella quartet. Dr. Raymond Alvarez will be on hand to share and discuss his new book “Forgotten Hero” honoring Ensign Maddox.

 

Have you followed our American Heroes Itinerary yet?