10 Years of Helping Buckhannon Deck The Halls: Upshur Arts Alliance Celebrates 10th Annual Holiday Tree & Wreath Sale

By Elizabeth Spencer

As the snow flew recently on Main Street, local residents continued to deck the halls for the holiday season, and Upshur Arts Alliance members responded to the need for holiday décor by setting up shop at the local Convention and Visitors’ Bureau for the group’s 10th Annual Tree and Wreath Sale.

This year’s sale will run Dec. 3 – Dec. 7 at the Upshur County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau on Main Street in Buckhannon.

Sandra Presar, event initiator and UAA founding member, said she got the idea for the tree and wreath sale after attending a similar event held by a public library in Chardon, Ohio.

She attributes the events longevity to the fact that the sale has undergone some changes over the years in response to community feedback, making it more tailored to the way locals want to experience the event.

“We have tried to evolve over the years to meet the needs of the community, so that the tree and wreath sale is something that works for everyone,” said Presar.

For a number of years, First Community Bank of Main Street kindly served as the venue, but due to bank‐limited hours for visitors and shoppers, UAA elected to move the event to another location where it would be more accessible, according to Presar.

The arts alliance wanted to keep the tree and wreath sale downtown in the heart of Buckhannon, while providing availability to evening and weekend event traffic, and The Upshur County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau offered to answer this call a few years ago by housing the sale, allowing UAA to better serve the public by offering the desired extended hours.

This year, the event’s format is evolving from the typical weeklong silent auction to a cash and carry event, as many people want to take items with them after one visit, rather than returning for additional bids or item pickups. Despite changes, the spirit of the annual tradition remains the same, as sale profits help to increase arts opportunities and enhance arts experiences in Upshur County.

Nearly 50 pieces of original handcrafted holiday décor, created and donated by various artists and community groups, will be available for sale in the name of the arts at the weeklong sale.

The hours for the sale at the CVB office are:

  • Dec. 3 and Dec. 5 — 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 4 and Dec. 6 — 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 7 — 9 a.m. to noon.

Featured

SHOPS & SERVICES

Really Really Free Market to return to Jawbone Park April 16

BUCKHANNON – The Consolidated Public Works Board approved event requests for the Really Really Free Market and Narcan Day. Heather Schneider and Missy Daugherty spoke during the March 23 CPWB to highlight the details of

Upshur Schools officials say instances of noncompliance found in WVDE review of special education services have been corrected

TENNERTON – The state Department of Education’s multi-part monitoring of Upshur County Schools’ Special Education services that unearthed some instances of noncompliance could soon be coming to an end. Upshur County Schools underwent an initial monitoring period in March 2022, […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

SHOPS & SERVICES

Tennis Lady Bucs drop outings to University and Philip Barbour

BUCKHANNON – The Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Buc tennis team suffered a pair of setbacks on Monday and Tuesday to the University Hawks and the Philip Barbour Colts. The Lady Bucs dropped both outings by identical 7-0 scores. “I am proud of […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

Tennis Bucs tumble to University, 7-0

BUCKHANNON– The young Buckhannon-Upshur tennis Buccaneers had the daunting task of meeting up with regional foe University again for the second time in a six-day span. The Bucs just were not able to keep up with the Hawks falling by […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

SHOPS & SERVICES

Ghana representatives visit Buckhannon ahead of WAMSB 2023

BUCKHANNON — With less than four months remaining until Buckhannon becomes a world stage, representatives with the National Cadet Corps, Ghana visited the area ahead of the World Association of Marching Show Bands (WAMSB) 2023