WHEELING – Wheeling’s annual Fantasy In Lights parade is expected to resume its regular route next holiday season, and the city needs 58 new snowflakes to help light the way.

Local organizations are partnering in an effort to find sponsors and purchase new LED snowflakes for hanging in the downtown. The cost for each snowflake is $560, according to information provided by Wheeling Heritage.

The plan is to purchase 58 snowflakes, and that comes to $32,480. Members of the community are being asked to sponsor each of the holiday decorations.

Community partners also are working toward having a new large Christmas tree at Market Plaza and several large dine-in igloos along the parade route that can be reserved for catering in partnership with local restaurants.

Joining in the effort are the City of Wheeling, Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce, Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED), Wheeling-Ohio County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), Wheeling Heritage, West Liberty University’s Department of Media and Liberal Arts, and the chamber’s parade committee.

Bill Bryson, of Uniglobe Ohio Valley Travel and the Wheeling Chamber, is spearheading the snowflake effort.

Because of Wheeling’s ongoing Downtown Streetscape project, it has been a few years since snowflakes were hung in the city during the holiday season.

Now it appears as though there are none remaining that can be used during the upcoming season. The snowflakes were older, and many that were no longer working and were discarded, he said.

There had been hope some might be remaining and could be added in along with any new snowflakes, but none could be found, according to Bryson.

“There is nothing usable,” he said. “The city doesn’t have anything. There is no inventory to start with. Some of our people have looked, and there’s nothing to go on. We are starting from scratch.”

The project is now revitalizing some of the energy the parade had “when it began 40 years ago,” he said.

“Hopefully we will be successful this year, we will expand further and keep the excitement going. What has been amazing is the support we’ve had from the city agencies. It is encouraging to see the organizations say this will be good for the city and we will come up with 58 snowflakes by mid-November.”

Those wanting to sponsor a snowflake should go online to Wheelingheritage.org/ snowflake-sponsorship.

They many also send checks payable to Wheeling Heritage Foundation, 1400 Main St., Wheeling, WV 26003

Those with questions should call the Wheeling Heritage office at 304-232-3087.