ELKINS — The Elkins-Randolph County Chamber is pleased to announce the return of the “Jingle All the Way” Christmas Parade in Elkins at 6 p.m. on Dec. 3.

The Chamber’s Christmas Lights Display Contest for businesses and residences will kick off the same evening. These Christmas events are part of a community effort to establish Elkins and Randolph County as “West Virginia’s Christmas Community.”

The 2021 Christmas Parade is sponsored by the City of Elkins, the Randolph County Commission, Jodie Parrack State Farm, and Citizens Bank of WV.

The parade will start at 11th Street on Davis Avenue and continue past City Hall. Parade VIPs — Santa and Mrs. Claus — will lead the parade. For safety reasons, onlookers are asked to spread out throughout the parade route and stay in family groupings. Also, there will be no activities at the YMCA this year. If your business or organization would like to register for the parade, visit erccc.com or call the Chamber at 304-636-2717.

Also scheduled to begin on Dec. 3 is the Chamber’s Christmas Lights Display Contest. Conceived during the pandemic, the contest is a way to “light up” Randolph County for both citizens and visitors.

This year’s sponsors for the contest are the Randolph County Commission, Master Service Corporation, Elkins Main Street and Valentine Personal Care Home. Both businesses and residences can register to be a part of the Light Display Map and participate in the contest by visiting erccc.com or contacting the Chamber. Businesses and residences will be judged separately.

Cash prizes are $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place. There will also be non-cash merit awards for both businesses and residences.

A new aspect of the Christmas Lights Display Contest for 2021 is a “Daylight Tour” of businesses that have beautiful Christmas decorations to enjoy inside their business. If your business would like to be included on the Daylight Tour, please call the Chamber at 304-636-2717 or email chamber@erccc.com.