BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — The Buckhannon Upshur Retail Merchants Association has joined with the City of Buckhannon to create the downtown Christmas decorations this year. The theme is “Christmas Around the World” to highlight Christmas tree decoration traditions celebrated in other countries as we celebrate our own here in West Virginia.
Downtown business owners are participating by adopting a country to feature in their business. Each participating business will decorate a tree to represent their chosen country. Austria will be featured at Sweet- A- Licious, Brazil at Ameriprise Financial, Canada at Anderegg Jewelers, Denmark at Mountain Lakes Insurance Agency, France at Sprint Store, Germany at Trump’s Salon, Ireland at Stone Tower Brews, Netherlands at Tateep Unique Boutique, Philippines at Just Cuttin Up , Poland at Jesterline Gaming Technologies, Russia at First Community Bank, and Spain will be on display at Mama Roma’s Restaurant.
In addition the America’s tree will be proudly decorated on the courthouse plaza by the Fred Brooks Garden Club and the City of Buckhannon employees will pay respect to our Mountaineer love of all things Christmas as they decorate a West Virginia tree at City Hall.
A colorful banner on Main Street will announce the event to visitors and welcome everyone to “Christmas Around the World.” Light poles downtown will be topped with a traditional lighted wreath and garland featuring flags from each country, ribbons, and balls in the country’s colors, and ornaments representative of their traditional tree decorating. An informative poster will be attached to each pole giving some details about each country.
Children are invited to participate in a fun scavenger hunt as they walk both sidewalks of Main Street looking at each pole to discover hidden symbols. They can pick up a scavenger hunt form at participating locations anytime after Thanksgiving, or print the one found below. Once the symbols are located and recorded on the form it can be deposited in a box located at Christmas Headquarters at 56 East Main Street (beside Dairy Queen) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 28, December 5, and December 12. While there, they can sample some hot cocoa or cider and a cookie. Surprise guests from the North Pole dressed in red and a funny green Grinch may drop by for pictures now and then!
Adults are not left out as they can pick up a punch card at any of the participating stores to enter a drawing for a gift card. They must visit each store to view the twelve featured trees, have their card punched, and drop it off at Christmas Headquarters in the drop box. Winners both adults and children will be notified on December 18.
The City of Buckhannon and the members of Buckhannon Upshur Retail Merchants Association invite everyone to shop downtown this holiday season and participate in this “social distancing” event.
