BUCKHANNON – The Dickens Christmas Planning Committee is asking local thespians and eager participants to bring characters from “A Christmas Carol” to life.

Event organizer Becki Westfall attended the Nov. 3 Upshur County Commission meeting to request the use of the courthouse steps for the event on Saturday, Dec. 3.

“We will be having entertainment — anyone who would like to be part of that can sign up and sing or dance on the courthouse steps,” Westfall said. “We’ll also have entertainment at Jawbone Park, and at 5:30 p.m., our parade will do lineups for our costumes, caroling and a candle parade. That will leave the courthouse at 6 p.m. and go down to Jawbone Park, behind our horse and buggies and anybody who would like to participate.”

At 6:30 p.m., Mayor Robbie Skinner will light a Christmas tree, and the Fezziwig Ball at the Opera House will kick off at 7 p.m.

“Our analytics right now are telling us about 2,000 people are coming, and we hope that grows,” Westfall said. “If you want help, we meet on Tuesday nights at 6 p.m. at my shop, Just Cuttin’ Up on Main Street. This coming week, however, it’s going to be at the Opera House at 6 p.m. because we have open casting calls for all our characters. Anyone in the community who would like to be one of the characters can do that.”

Westfall said city council member CJ Rylands has already put together his costume and he hopes the rest of the community will participate.

“I saw Mr. Ryland’s outfit, and everyone else will have to step it up a little bit,” she said. “He’s pretty excited — he has the hat, the whole outfit. We’ve actually asked the sheriff to get on his horse and we are allowing the police officers to be on horses that day. We’re really wanting to get into the season. We’ll have a blacksmith on Main Street, we have shoe shiners, and we’ll have vendors at the at Jawbone Park, so this is going to be a big deal. We’ll be selling turkey legs, chestnuts and we really hope everybody comes out that day and participates in this.”