Holiday: Bluefield, W.Va. is truly a ‘Christmas City’

Bluefield, W.Va. is truly a ‘Christmas City’

Santa confirmed that Kendal, Bluefield Fire Department arson dog, has been a good girl this year. (Photo provided by city of Bluefield) How often does a person see Santa Claus and the Grinch side by side? In Bluefield, W.Va., it happens annually. (Photo provided by city of Bluefield)

By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal

It was once believed that Bluefield, W.Va., was named for the wild chicory flowers that colored the landscape purplish blue during the summer. The coal fields of the Bluestone River were most likely the actual source of the city’s name, however.

According to city ambassador Marie Blackwell, “The city of Bluefield, nicknamed ‘Little New York’ during the coal boom, became one of the first cities in the nation with a distinct skyline, complete with striking architecture from the 1920s. It is located at the base of the East River Mountain Range and offers history, outdoor recreation, a variety of cuisine, music, and is home to West Virginia’s ‘Christmas City.’”

Bluefield is officially the Christmas City of West Virginia. It has state and federal trademarks to prove it, and the Holiday of Lights, held in Lotito City Park, has delighted countless attendees. One of the more unique components of the show is that it spans two states: The state border between West Virginia and Virginia cuts right through the park. “Complete with a 30-foot animated Christmas tree, including drum synchronized music, Santa Claus, trolley rides, lights, music, Ferris wheel, ice skating rink, holiday market, food and excitement, Bluefield is the perfect city to experience the Magic of Christmas,” Blackwell said.

“This year will be the second for the festival since receiving the designation of West Virginia’s Christmas City. The city attorney applied to the state of West Virginia for this designation, and we were so thrilled to be awarded it in 2021.”

The story of the Christmas City began with the Holiday of Lights, a perennial favorite attraction that has endured 26 years and welcomed over 54,000 visitors in 2021. Each year, beginning Thanksgiving night and running through the beginning of January, the 40-plus acre park is transformed into a showcase of holiday themes that take up just about every inch of the park. It’s quite an accomplishment considering that the first year’s displays consisted of a few scattered snowflakes. These days, visitors will see 1.2 million lights and themed displays including a 16-foot-tall ice princess fabricated by locals William Bennett and Andrew Willis.

Local businesses and the city of Bluefield chose to piggyback off the Holiday of Lights, adding a Hometown Christmas Week downtown

It used to be that people loathed the ugly Christmas Sweater. Now it’s celebrated and there are competitions for just who can find the ugliest. It’s one of the festivities during the season in Bluefield W.Va., the “Christmas City.” (Photo provided by city of Bluefield)

with a schedule jam-packed with activities. There’s brunch at the Blue Spoon Cafe and Coffee with homemade doughnuts, waffles, biscuits and gravy: During last year’s festivities, patrons could come to breakfast one Saturday morning in their favorite Christmas pajamas, and show their receipt at the Granada for a buy-one-get-one-free ticket to the showing of “The Polar Express,” or “Happy Feet.” Locals and visitors can flex their muscles and participate in the Holiday of Lights 5K challenge, running through all the displays: And they can keep that burn going all the way through Jan. 8 if they like to ice skate, because the former Big Whiskey parking lot is turned into an ice rink beginning Nov. 2. It has synthetic ice, made of a polymer material, and 100 pairs of ice skates ready and waiting.

And no one wants to miss the Christmas Tree Lighting with Santa Claus. Imagine a 22-foot tree, beautifully lit, that comes to life: playing music every half hour from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. The music can be heard all through the streets downtown. And what about a Christmas City parade? The Bluefield Professional Firefighters Local 347 and the city host it, complete with marching bands, floats, antique cars and more. Santa Claus makes his appearance in a shiny red fire truck.

Local vendors display their wares as well. Want some gnomes, tie-dye shirts or sweatshirts? How about fruit and nuts, candy and other goodies to help Santa fill those Christmas stockings? Warm up with some hot cider or German Gluhwein, which literally translates to ‘glow wine,’ because that’s how a person feels after partaking.

Customers can buy garlands, wreaths and, of course, Christmas trees. There are several Christmas tree farms in the area. Among those to choose from are Canaan fir, which is native to West Virginia and has soft needles, although prickly needled Norway Spruces are available too.

Christmas, and what it means to people, changes through the years. As children, it’s all about the magic of Santa and toys: As one grows older, it’s about family gatherings and beginning to be aware that memories are being made with loved ones and friends. As parents, it’s about creating that childhood magic for their own little ones, and eventually becoming grandparents. The circle never ends, and Christmas comes each year bringing care and beauty like what is created in Bluefield—the epitome of a Christmas City. The ice princess stands 16 feet tall in all her beauty. She was fabricated by Bluefield, W.Va., resident William Bennett, and Andrew Willis custom crafted her lights. She is one of the stars of an extensive, drive-through light show in Bluefield, W.Va., which is known as “Christmas City.” (Photo provided by city of Bluefield, W.Va.)

It’s not the Golden Arches but crossed candy canes become the magic gates for the city of Bluefield’s Festival of Lights. No admission is charged, but donations are accepted upon departure. (Photo provided by city of Bluefield)