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Follansbee's Christmas in the Park event always has stood for a couple of things.
The festival, which was started in 2003, has offered a reminder that the Christmas season is a little more than two months away.
It also has helped to raise money for local children with special medical needs and the Follansbee R.E.A.C.H. Program food pantry.
Those who attend the festival, set to run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, will know that proceeds will go in the traditional directions. But they also will be able to support others in another way -- money collected at the festival's information booth near the entrance of the swimming pool will be sent to a church in North Carolina and will be used to help victims of Hurricane Helene.
Of course, the annual event at the Follansbee Park will offer plenty of things to do -- Christmas lights and other decorations will adorn the park, and Christmas music will be played throughout the event, which organizers expect will attract more than 80 craft, food and other vendors. Continuing with the theme, Santa Claus will make an appearance in the early afternoon of each day.
Once again, several of the life-size figures from the Steubenville Nutcracker Village will be on display inside the Community House, thanks to the support of the Nelson family.
That's also where Hood's Pharmacy will be offering flu shots and community organizations will be set up to share information.
Trinity Health System continues to provide support for the event, which traces its beginnings to an idea shared by Bill Secrist, current co-chair, and former Follansbee Councilwoman Kathy Santoro, who saw it as a way to raise money for local causes while offering Tri-State Area residents the chance to do some early Christmas shopping. It continues thanks to the efforts of co-chair Stacey Williams and a dedicated committee of volunteers, which includes Tom DiBattista, who worked with Secrist to add the collection for hurricane victims to the mix.
It all adds up to a great way to get prepared for the coming holiday season and enjoy a couple of fall afternoons -- all while raising money that will used to help area residents -- and others, who have faced devastating destruction.