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Residents enjoy Philippi events

The Inter-Mountain photos by Bonnie Branciaroli Kids of all ages enjoy the Philippi Christmas Parade

PHILIPPI  — Several festive events Friday opened the Philippi Christmas season.

The festivities began with the opening of the Christmas Craft show sponsored by Barbour County 4-H. Held in the G.C. Murphy store on Main Street, the show spotlighted more than 40 arts and crafts booths offering an array of holiday goodies.

“This is the largest Christmas craft show I have ever seen here,” said shopper Donna Wilson as she looked over the wooden wares created by Jamie Cross of The Rusty Nail. “It’s nice to see so many people supporting our artists.”

The craft show featured some unique items, including handmade Christmas cards by co-owners Vickie Davis and April Paugh of Hilltop Valley Cards.

Impressive three-dimensional, fold-out cards were the hit with the crowd that poured by between 4-7 p.m.

Santa waves to the crowd along the parade route from the Tower 4 fire engine. The Philippi Christmas parade wowed the crowd with more than 25 entries, with the City of Philippi and their Nativity scene winning the trophy for the best float.

“We have been making handmade cards for 20 years,” Paugh said. “We don’t advertise. People find us by word-of-mouth … and that’s about all we can handle. We do this for the fun of it, not the money in it.”

Barbour County Relay for Life’s “Circle of Hope” team included volunteer Helene Essig’s books of folded pages that become all kinds of beautiful Christmas messages and decor. The work is so intricate she needs a mathematical formula to create the pieces.

“I love creating these from old books,” she said. “It makes the time pass, and I do it while I’m watching TV in the evenings, especially in the winter.”

The colorful and smartly wrapped candies and sweets offered by the Sunshine Foundation were a show

favorite.

“We are here every year,” volunteer Carol Weaver said. “Ours is the only Sunshine Foundation Chapter in the state and these donations help bring “Dreams Come True.”

The Sunshine Foundation is the “Original Wish Granting Organization” founded in 1976 by Philadelphia police officer Bill Sample. The mission of the organization is to answer the dreams of chronically ill or challenged children whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to financial strain. More information can be obtained at sunshinefoundation.org.

The Philippi Christmas Parade began at 7 p.m. and featured over 25 entries, including floats, decorated vehicles, dance troupes, marching bands, fire and emergency vehicles and the star of the show — Santa.

Philippi Main Street director Tammy Stemple said it was a “great parade that enthralled young and old and produced winners, too.”

The City of Philippi won “Best Float” with their rendition of the Nativity scene; Animal Friends of Barbour County won “Best Decorated Vehicle” with their dog, Bo, lounging on top the lighted dog box while volunteers handed out large, stuffed doggies to the kids.

The Philip Barbour High School Band came in as “Best Group” and “Best Theme” went to the Philippi Middle School Band.

After the parade, Santa visited The Market Place on Main Street to give each child a word of praise and a special gift.

The festivities were sponsored by the Philippi Convention and Visitors Bureau and Philippi Main Street and included donations from many local groups, organizations and businesses.

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