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Annual ‘Christmas in November’ Event Finds New Venue, Name at The Highlands

WesBanco Arena will no longer host a craft show in November, but the event will continue on at The Highlands Sports Complex.

The new “Christmas At The Highlands” will replace the annual “Christmas In November,” which typically took place the weekend before Thanksgiving at the downtown Wheeling venue. The inaugural event at The Highlands is set for Oct. 28-30, with plans in the coming years to hold the event in early November.

Sonya Fedorko, marketing director for WesBanco Arena, explained “Christmas in November” just wasn’t bringing in shoppers to WesBanco Arena like it once did.

“We used to get about 10,000 people,” Fedorko said. “Last year, we only got 1,750.”

Adding to the issue is the back parking continues to be closed, with the WesBanco lot undergoing construction for a new intersection for South Street/Nailers Way and 16th Street.

Between 150 to 175 vendors have always set up at the event, with many coming from outside the area, she continued.

“They invest all that time and effort and money to come and 72 percent of them didn’t even break even,” Fedorko said. “It needs a refresh. We’re hoping it actually draws in more people at The Highlands.”

After the decision was made not to continue the craft event at WesBanco Arena, she reached out to vendor Kevin Carroll, also owner of a Touch of Amish.

Carroll has taken over organizing for the event, and has signed a three-year deal with the Ohio County Development Authority for use of The Highlands Sports Complex.

This year activities were already scheduled for the sports complex throughout November, so the Christmas crafts event was set for the end of October.

The following two years, “Christmas At The Highlands” will take place closer to Veterans Day, Carroll said.

One alternative location considered was the Belmont County Fairgrounds, he continued.

“But we thought it should be in Ohio County,” Carroll said. “We’re trying to keep it in the community.”

He added the event was “fortunate” to land The Highlands location for this year after there was a cancellation there.

“We would have hated to take a year’s delay and lose momentum,” he said.

So far, over 150 vendors have asked for applications, with some coming from those in Kentucky and Ohio.

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