photo by: Joselyn King

Jessica Shreve, left, owner of Jessie Lee Chainsaw Art in Valley Grove, and her husband Colton Shreve show their wares at “Christmas At The Highlands,” which took place Friday through Sunday at The Highlands Sports Complex.

TRIADELPHIA — There were lots of food items, metal and wood carvings and shiny things at “Christmas At The Highlands” this year — and this attracted many from throughout the region to The Highlands Sports Complex over the weekend.

There were 250 spaces rented out by vendors, who came from as far away as Alabama and New York.

Kevin Carroll, owner of A Touch Of Amish and organizer of “Christmas At The Highlands,” reported that after the craft show opened Friday night more than 2,000 people came through the venue.

On Saturday, he said the show was on pace to have another 4,000 visitors. Visitors on Sunday added to the 6,000 total and overall attendance was expected to exceed 8,000.

“I am hearing from people traveling from up to two hours away,” he said. “It has drawn a lot of people to the area, which economy-wise is great. They’re eating up here. The vendors are staying in hotels, and there are 12 different states represented here by vendors.”

The cost of admission was $3 for adults, and money raised benefited the Wayne Wilhelm Memorial Scholarship fund — which provides scholarships for career and technical students at Wheeling Park High School. Wilhelm was the father of Carroll’s wife, Anne Carroll.

Vendor Jessica Shreve, owner of Jessie Lee Chainsaw Art in Valley Grove, explained how she first came to pick up a chainsaw and start a new interest.

She had been searching for a large eagle wall hanging substantial enough to show presence when hanging in a VFW or American Legion hall.

Shreve found a picture of one she wanted, but no local woodcarvers were interested in taking on the project.

That’s when Shreve picked up the chainsaw.

“I knew we wanted it big enough to hang in a banquet hall, and I thought I could probably carve it myself,” she said. “My mom told me I couldn’t, and that I would cut my fingers off. My dad told me I could try, but not with his big saw. I had to go borrow my uncle’s littler one.

“I did it, and it turned out fantastic. That was about seven years ago, and I haven’t put down a chainsaw since.”

Shreve noted she had never used a chainsaw before the experience, or shown any artistic ability.

“I am a really horrible drawer,” she said. “But there’s something about three-dimensional … I do well at making art in three dimensions. I carve very well, and that’s the only way I find myself to be very artistic.

“I think if I’m painting or drawing I will keep erasing or redrawing. I’m never content with it. I can’t do that with chainsaw carving or I would have a big pile of saw dust.”

Retired teacher and former Ohio County Board of Education member Pete Chacalos — also a photographer, historian and author — is an annual fixture at “Christmas At The Highlands.” He said he sells enough to be profitable, but that isn’t really why he brings his photos and books to craft shows.

“The thing I like more than anything is just talking to people,” he said. “They look at my books, and we talk about that. Simply talking to people is what it’s about.”