PREPARATION — Workers help to construct the Christmas tree inside Fort Steuben Park. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Historic Fort Steuben is in the midst of its transformation into a winter wonderland.

“This is our 10th year of creating a joyful holiday experience in Steubenville, and with the help of so many in the community, we are making it better than ever,” said Judy Bratten, director of Historic Fort Steuben.

Standing amid the cables, strings of lights, metal hoops and a dozen volunteers working throughout Fort Steuben Park, Bratten was enthusiastic about the season ahead.

“This year, we tasked our board members to develop ways and funds to enhance Christmas at the Fort,” she said. “As a private, nonprofit historical site, our mission was to reconstruct the 18th century military fort and provide educational, historical and cultural programs. We fulfilled the goal of building the fort and now the challenge is to maintain it and continue to promote it and its programs. This event is one way of doing that while being a significant fundraiser.”

Workers from M&M Hardware this week have been busy erecting the hoops that become a canopy of colored lights above the walkway. Under the direction of Roger Hilty, men from the Eastern Correctional Center assembled the frames for the 20-foot and 30-foot trees and volunteers Larry Coleman and Larry Bauer wound garlands on the fences around the property.

Students from the Sycamore Youth Corps are working on testing lights. And, staff inside the Visitor Center were unpacking crates of decorations that would soon transform the interior into a Christmas wonderland.

“We are so very grateful to the organizations, businesses, clubs and individuals who are supporting us as we organize this event, more than I can list here,” Bratten said. “Trinity Health System is once again the title sponsor. Franciscan University of Steubenville is sponsoring the Christmas Tree Plaza, National Colloid has the white Christmas tree, the Kessler family again sponsors the singing trees and WTOV-TV will help with promotions,” she noted.

“New this year is the Cedar One Christmas Pavilion, a 20-foot-by-30-foot heated tent that will offer a space to warm up and listen to entertainment. We will have the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra’s On the Go Brass Quintet, Brooke High School’s Madrigal Choir and the Traveling Witkowski’s Christmas Show in the pavilion as well as story time on Saturdays with staff members from the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County.”

Bratten added 7Ranges Entertainment and Ferguson’s House of Furniture are sponsoring a special holiday performance of Jeff Jimerson and Airborne Celebrate Christmas in the Berkman Amphitheater on Nov. 30.

She said many attractions of the past will continue this year, including the Holiday Market, featuring more than 20 craft and food vendors; the Holly Trolley Rides; Christmas movies; tours of the fort; and the Mousetrap Puppet Theater. The additions include additional photo opportunities with holiday figures, a sleigh and reindeer and special decorations from the Center of Music and Art.

“We are working with students at Steubenville High School to program the singing trees and new RGB trees,” she said. “They are learning how to do special lighting and projections that will really make the park sparkle. And, we have a few surprises that we won’t reveal until opening day, Nov. 29,” she explained. “We want everyone to come downtown to experience what one volunteer called an ‘event of overflowing joy.'”

Information about Christmas at the fort and a detailed schedule will be posted on the website, OldFortSteuben.com, in the coming days. The event will run from Nov. 29 to Dec. 29 at Historic Fort Steuben, 120 S. Third Street.