WESTOVER — The city of Westover is planning a holiday party and Santa has already RSVP’d, so you know it’s gonna be big.
A small group of volunteers led by Summer Hartley and City Councilor Shawna Cross are putting the finishing touches on the inaugural Westover WinterFest, an event organizers hope will become an annual tradition.
The festivities will take place from 3 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Westover VFW, located at 340 Holland Ave.
Hartley said she made a list and has checked it at least twice – everything from the tree topper to the table cloths are lining up nicely.
“Everything has been ordered. We got the ornaments in. We got all the decorations. Things are good,” she said.
The shindig will include cookies, hot cocoa and other snacks as well as games and activities for kids, a family photo booth, performances by the Motown Strutters and Morgantown Dance, and more.
It will culminate with Santa leading the lighting of the city’s 14-foot live tree in a ceremony starting at 6 p.m.
Part of that ceremony will be the hanging of family ornaments currently on sale at the event’s website wowinterfest.com. A portion of the proceeds will support next year’s celebration.
“We’re going to do a nice presentation of the ornaments. So, anyone who buys a personalized ornament, Santa will call out the family name and the family can come and hang the ornament on the tree before the lighting,” Hartley said.
A jolly old elf in his own right, Westover Mayor Bob Lucci is expected to offer remarks.
“It’ll be very nice. I really believe it will be. The goal is to have this first one and continue it,” Lucci said. “Communication is going to be the key. If we really want people there, communication is a big thing.”
