Find a Sleigh Full of Christmas Events in Belmont County

From parades to outdoor festivals, Belmont County offers a variety of ways to get in the holiday spirit! Shop for hand-made, one-of-a-kind gifts, sip a cup of hot cocoa, buy a freshly cut Christmas tree, hear live Christmas music, or tour a 26-room mansion decked out in Victorian splendor!

Pick the perfect Christmas Tree

Christmas trees are a central part of Christmas celebrations around the world. Families gather around them to exchange gifts. Cities and villages put them up in squares and town halls and have lighting ceremonies. You’ll find them in nearly every hotel, restaurant, and shopping mall. The first use of the Christmas tree as it is known today dates back to the 1500s. The Christmas tree is such an iconic and symbolic part of the holiday that numerous songs are dedicated to it. No matter how or when you decorate your tree, there’s nothing quite like the sight, smell, and memory-making tradition of choosing and cutting (or digging to plant later) your own Christmas tree. Belmont County offers two tree farms to help you develop or continue this treasured holiday tradition.

• DAVIS CHRISTMAS TREES, 59115 Somerton Highway, Barnesville, OH 43713, 740-425-2667.
• FEISLEY TREE FARMS, 66565 Muller Rd. Belmont OH 43718, 740-782-1846.

Feisley Tree Farms is a wholesale, retail, and choose and cut Christmas tree farm owned and operated by Geoff and Theresa Feisley. This family-owned and operated farm offers customers a wagon ride out to the fields to pick that perfect tree. This year they are offering Christmas gifts made by local craftsmen and artisans for sale in a 200-year-old barn. Butler Mobile Event Server will be there each weekend from 10 am – 5 pm with hot cocoa and cider and sweet and savory treats to purchase. The beautiful farm was the filming location for the 2013 Hallmark Movie Channel’s A Christmas Tree Miracle. Visit their Facebook page for more information and holiday hours.

Explore a three-story toy store

In the city of Martins Ferry, at the corner of Hanover and 5th Street, sits a three-story toy store that you must see to believe! Owned by Michael and Constance Yeso, Deluxe Toy & Hobby is possibly the largest, continuously owned toy store in the nation, having been started by Constance’s parents, William and Angela Tolbert, in 1955.

The toy store was moved to its current location in 1978, quickly filling up all three stories with toys. The Yesos put a lot of time and attention into selecting the toys for the store, attending the American Toy Fair in New York City every year. The toys run from simple and nostalgic to new and unique. Visit their Facebook page for hours and information.

Tour a “magical” mansion – The Belmont County Historical Society invites all to visit the Belmont County Victorian Mansion Museum for its annual “Magic of Christmas Tours.” The beautiful decorations and Christmas trees showcase this exquisite 26-room Victorian home.

Each room has been decorated by a local business, group, or individual, giving each a holiday feel. This year’s theme is “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas.”

The Christmas Tours run each weekend through Dec. 18. Tour hours are Fridays from 5-8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4 p.m. The admission fee is $8 for adults and $2 for students 6-18. Private tours for groups of 10 or more are available by reservation through Jan. 8. The Belmont County Victorian Mansion Museum is located on Ohio 800 in Barnesville.

Get festive at a holiday festival

The first weekend of December in Belmont County offers two great festivals full of Christmas spirit.

Martin’s Ferry Winterfest – The Martins Ferry Winterfest on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 11 am – 8 pm (corner of 5th and Hanover streets) offers a day jam-packed with festive activities, including craft vendors, food trucks, a tree lighting, a cookie eating contest, an ice skating rink, inflatables for kids, a dog show with a dog costume contest (including an owner and pet look-a-like), a Weiner dog race from 3-4 pm, live music from 12-8 pm by Jaime Kropka, Hollow, and Mongo Huey, a Snowflake 5K walk and run, and a visit from Santa! Sponsored by Project Forward, proceeds from the event help the continued downtown revitalization of Martins Ferry.

Christmas In The Ville – Spend the weekend enjoying an old-fashioned Christmas in Barnesville Dec. 2- 4. Events begin with the village tree lighting on Thursday at 6 pm, followed by Christmas carols, hot chocolate, and cookies at the Barnesville Senior Center.

The Christmas in the Ville Vendor Event has been expanded to three days this year. Over 30 vendors will be set up Friday, 5-8 pm, Saturday, 10 am – 8 pm, and Sunday, 11 am – 3 pm inside the Bohandy building at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets (SR 147 and 800). A mailbox will be set up in front of the building for people to mail their letters to Santa. Santa and Mrs. Claus and other special Christmas characters will be walking around the village during the event.

Craft vendors will also be at the Main Street Barrel House and the Barnesville Elks. Downtown retail merchants will offer holiday gifts, including food, clothing, home décor, and holiday decorations. Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

The State Theater will also be open Friday, 5-8 pm, Saturday, 1-3 pm, and Sunday, 11 am – 3 pm, with treats for the kids, music, a photo booth, and a lively bunch of nutcrackers. They will also have a table inside the Bohandy building offering Christmas raffles, t-shirts, hats, and koozies to help raise funds for the restoration of this historic theater.

New this year, an ice skating rink will be set up on the west side of Main Street on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Barnesville FFA will be selling Davis Christmas trees nearby. The FFA will also host a square dance on Saturday in the elementary school gym after the parade, beginning at 8 pm. Food trucks will also be available near the ice rink throughout the weekend.

On Saturday, Dec. 3, at 5 pm, the Santa’s Spirit Sprint races through town right before the parade. The fourth race in the Barnesville Grand Prix Series is a one-mile, point-to-point racing event that raises money for needy children during Christmas. All cash, donations, gift cards, and donations collected are used to purchase gifts, clothes, toys, and much more.

All participants receive a ceramic-fired Christmas ornament, glow sticks, and jingle bells for their shoes. Participants are encouraged to dress up in the holiday spirit and to stick around for the parade immediately after the awards. They are also eligible for door prizes and to win one of over 110 beautifully hand-crafted Christmas trophies!

Santa makes his grand appearance at the lighted Christmas Parade, sponsored by Hissom’s Service Center, from 5:30-7 pm. The parade will line up at Barnesville High School at 3:30 p.m. Visit the chamber website for entry forms.

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