It’s Magical! – Christmas in Steubenville
Disclosure: MyOhioFun was paid for the promotion of this event.
PRESS RELEASE
The holiday season is an especially joyful time in Steubenville, Ohio, where Nutcrackers, model trains, StoryWalks, and glorious lights have made visiting the city a holiday tradition for many families.
Beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving through the beginning of the new year, the historic downtown is transformed into the Steubenville Nutcracker VillageTM, with over 180 life-sized Nutcrackers that inhabit the sidewalks, parks, and storefronts 24/7. Each unique Nutcracker, designed and produced by the local artisans at Nelson’s of Steubenville, depicts a character from history, literature, music, popular culture, or profession. Meet Rosie the Riveter, Jack Frost, and all the Rat Pack personalities while taking memorable selfies to send home.
Chief designer, Therese Fedoryka, says she is enthusiastic for this seventh year of the event.
“Our latest addition to the collection, a dazzling Peacock Nutcracker, was designed by Sonya Godfrey for our first nutcracker competition, and will be revealed at the start of the season! We’re looking forward to the continuation of many holiday traditions here, such as Hayrides, the Children’s Corner, and a Nutcracker StoryWalk organized by the Jefferson County Public Library, as well as some new additions to the festival that will be announced soon!”
To add to the celebration, on four weekend evenings there will be a light and music show on the Jefferson County Courthouse on Market Street. Historic churches and buildings in town will light up for the season and offer special tours and concerts.
Historic Fort Steuben – 120 S. 3rd Street – hosts Christmas at the Fort, with colorful walkways of light, music, Nutcrackers, and fairy tale figures surrounding the spectacular 30’ Christmas Tree in Fort Steuben Park. Weekends are special as the Advent Market, will be open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Nov. 26 to Dec. 19, and features decorated booths with vendors selling crafts, food, and souvenirs. Choral groups filling the air with song, Milly’s Kids’ Zone, the Holly Trolley, and tours of the reconstructed Fort Steuben add to the fun. The Fort Steuben Visitor Center features an art exhibit, a model train village and Sebastian, the singing autistic nutcracker, as well as a Christmas Shop that carries a variety of gifts, books, and mementoes of your visit.
The Ohio Valley Model Railroad Display, located just a few blocks from the center of town at 248 N. 4th Street, will be open on weekends presenting a massive, detailed exhibit of an industrial Ohio Valley landscape including bridges, factories, creeks, buildings, and mountains — finely detailed down to the junk in the railyards — with O-Gauge model trains clickety-clacking through it all.
For those who enjoy winter hikes, Beatty Park on Lincoln Avenue has trails through this historic nature preserve. A Christmas at the Park event on Dec. 4th will include a Nativity, community choir, holiday hikes/rides to the old holiday-decorated stone lodge, campfires, and a blacksmith who will be sharing pioneer and historical stories.
Earlier that day, the annual Eastern Gateway Community College Sights and Sounds of Christmas Parade will bring floats, marching bands, classic cars, and dance troupes down Fourth Street.
North Fourth Street is the place for shopping – for gifts and souvenirs at Drosselmeyer’s Nutcracker Shoppe, locally roasted coffee at Leonardo’s Coffeehouse, treats from Steubenville Popcorn Company, new and used books from BookMarx, and specialty items from The Prodigal Daughter.
“This is truly a community event,” explains Steubenville Mayor Jerry Barilla. “We have received major support from Trinity Health System, Eastern Gateway Community College, Franciscan University of Steubenville, TEAM Automotive as well as from dozens of businesses, organizations, and volunteers. It’s wonderful how everyone catches and spreads the Christmas spirit…it’s magical!”
For more information on the Nutcracker Village go to www.SteubenvilleNutcrackerVillage.com and for other Christmas events in Steubenville, go to www.VisitSteubenville.com or call 740.283.4935.
Press release submitted by:
Judy Bratten
Assistant Director
Historic Fort Steuben/Visitor Center
120 S. 3rd Street
Steubenville OH 43953
