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STEUBENVILLE - The National Weather Service is predicting chilly and dry weather for tonight's light-up ceremony.

That weather forecast is welcome news for Beth Wood, executive director of the Steubenville Convention and Visitors Bureau. Wood is hoping for a large crowd at the annual event that is set to start at 6:30 p.m.

Wood said the ceremonies have been delayed from the normal 5 p.m. start because film crews are scheduled to be working near the Market Street Bridge today for a scene from the Denzel Washington movie "Unstoppable."

"We are very excited by the approximately 150 film crew members who will be in the city for at least two days during their filming of the scenes. Moving the official start time back 90 minutes will not cause us any problems," said Wood.

"Bob DiFonzo and the city electricians will be doing the final decorating work (today) because we have been told the movie company may be using helicopters near the bridge and landing them at the park. So we don't want to have our decorations affected by the helicopters," she said.

"We will have the official light-up ceremony with Mayor Domenick Mucci and the city electrical department turning on the lights on our tree at the park as well as the city's decorative lights throughout the downtown at 6:45 p.m.," said Wood.

"Immediately following the light-up ceremony the Brenda Casey Dance Center will be performing a Christmas show at the Louis and Sandra Berkman Amphitheater. Following the show Brenda Casey officially will crown the 2009 Christmas Queen," said Wood.

She noted the high school homecoming queens vying for the Christmas Queen title include Alexis Kunkel of Edison Local, Bailey Sickles of Steubenville Catholic Central, Gabbi Davis of Indian Creek and Brittany Roberts of Steubenville High School.

"The Steubenville Revitalization Group is offering free hot dogs, popcorn and soup along with hot chocolate and coffee. Those refreshments are being coordinated by Tony Corella and Laura Froehlich of the SRG," said Wood.

"We are very excited about this year's light-up night event and are inviting all area residents to join us in officially welcoming the Christmas season to downtown Steubenville," Wood stated.

She added the city's annual Christmas parade is set for Dec. 12.

"Anyone interested in taking part in this year's parade should contact us at the CVB office. We have been forced to charge a $10 entry fee this year because the city is no longer able to supply us with police officers, so we will be hiring off-duty officers to assist with traffic and crowd control," Wood noted.