Highland County Welcomes Holiday Season With Wintertide Festivities

Monterey, Va – For 22 years Monterey has opened its Christmas celebration with Wintertide Weekend sponsored this year by the Highland County Chamber of Commerce and the Highland Center. This year’s festivities will run from Friday, December 3 through Sunday, December 5. Chamber of Commerce Director Tim O’Roark highlights some of the weekend’s activities.

“We’re looking forward to the 22nd annual Wintertide weekend” says O’Roark. “We want to particularly call attention to the Christmas Tree lighting Saturday evening at 6 o’clock on the Courthouse lawn. Also we’ll have the Angel Tree there, so that you can pick up a ticket for that if you want to help one of the children in the community that won’t have as much for Christmas without your help.”

The Tree Lighting ceremony will also include holiday music and the reading of a traditional Christmas story. At eight o’clock Friday evening the Pendleton County Community Choir will perform seasonal favorites at the Monterey United Methodist Church.

For those of you looking to get a head start on your Christmas shopping, several Monterey merchants will stay open through much of Friday evening for your convenience. Stores in Monterey will be open on Saturday, and some, including the Highland County Craft Shop will also have Sunday hours.

“We certainly want to encourage you to visit our local businesses and do some shopping there – I know they would all appreciate your support” says O’Roark.

Mr. O’Roark goes on to highlight the Highland Center’s Holiday Treasures Market.

“The Highland Center is going to the have the Blue Roof Caterers Open House on Friday, December 3rd from 12 to 6 and Saturday, December 4th, 10 to 5” he says. “And there’s going to be an artisans market highlighting local creations from wool to wood, jams to cakes, and everything in between. The artist studios will also be open. The Highland County craft shop will be open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.”

The Ginseng Mountain Store north of Monterey will have its special Wintertide Open House on Saturday and Sunday with special free holiday goodies for all those who stop in.

On Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM there will be a benefit dinner for the Chapman Family in the Highland school cafeteria. There will be something for everyone to enjoy in Highland County this weekend.