The Grant County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Petersburg are kicking off the holiday season with their annual Hometown Christmas event at the Petersburg City Park this Saturday evening from 4 - 7 p.m.

Come out and visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus as they preside over the festivities including cookies, hot chocolate and s’more making, tree decorating, games and prizes, caroling, bounce houses, ATV rides, giveaways and a live nativity.

There are plenty of family fun things to do and see, and the lights at the park are an added bonus.

Bring the kids out to see Santa and Mrs. Claus, grab a snack and enjoy a winter evening with friends. You won’t want to miss it!

Get in the Christmas spirit at the 6th annual Country Christmas with the Arts featuring the Community Chorus this Friday at the Landes Arts Center. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 p.m.

This year will feature both sacred and secular holiday songs by the chorus with a featured violinist and guitarist. Santa will be there to visit and take pictures with the kids so bring your camera or phone. Refreshments for everyone will be served afterwards, provided by Grant Memorial Hospital.

Bring yourself and the kids for an evening of musical fun with songs such as “The 12 Days of Christmas” like you’ve never heard it before, “Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas,” “A Marshmallow World,” “The Little Drummer Boy” and other favorites.

Once again Rosanne Glover will be directing the chorus, accompanied by Teddy Ketterman.

The chorus is made up of both Petersburg and Moorefield community members, so a second concert will be held at Duffey Memorial Church in Moorefield on Saturday night at 7 p.m. You are welcome to attend either concert, or both.

We hope to see you there!

This Saturday will be the 27th year for Toys for Happiness and one more cold Saturday for Denver Riggleman as he is lifted above Petersburg Electronics/Radio Shack to stay until 650 new toys are collected for kids in Grant County.

Any new toys are accepted for both boys and girls, from small items up to larger items such as bicycles.

The weather is predicted to be chilly and hopefully the winds will be calm as he and his helpers on the ground collect toys and donations. Each donation of $10 is counted as one toy. Cash is accepted as well as checks made out to Toys for Happiness.

The Jordan Run CEOS club carefully looks through the applications and selects appropriate toys for each child to receive.

If you are concerned about someone returning the toys to get the cash value, that won’t happen. The bar codes on each new toy are marked through to prevent returns.

Having your own kids or grandkids bring toys to donate is a good way to promote generosity and unselfi shness, and if you consent, we’ll be taking photos of those bringing in donations on Saturday.

If you can’t make it to the event, both toy and monetary donations will be accepted at the Grant County Press and forwarded on to the Jordan Run club.

Only the community can ensure the success of this charity and if past years are any indication, Denver the Elf will be down on the ground before noon!

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