WESTOVER – For four decades, Westover residents Ronnie and Sharon Cain turned a slow cruise down Maple Avenue into a can’t-miss Christmas tradition.
Literally, if you were in the area, you couldn’t miss it – and why would you have wanted to?
What started as a man, a discount Santa suit and lawn chair grew over time into a jaw-dropping display of exterior illumination that spilled onto neighboring homes and yards, lighting up the street and generations of faces, young and old.
The Cains wound up the Christmas lights for the final time in 2021.
So, volunteers organizing the city’s second annual Winterfest celebration decided it was about time to shine some light back on the couple that brought so much joy to the community.
They’ll do so as part of Winterfest, the city’s free tree-lighting event, to be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Westover Volunteer Fire Department.
“They are Mr. and Mrs. Christmas in Westover,” event organizer Mellissa Brady said. “They not only would decorate and have their neighbors all get involved, they would dress up as Santa and hand out gifts to kids and organize canned food drives. So, it will be nice to do something to honor and celebrate them when we light up the tree.”
Brady said singers from Skyview Elementary and Westwood Middle schools will be caroling while the Visit Mountaineer Country CVB provides cookies and hot chocolate and WV Jewelry & Loan brings some corn for popping. The Westover VFD will offer young attendees a close look at some of their equipment and vehicles.
While Brady said the event will be somewhat scaled down from last year’s inaugural event – a three-hour affair which was held at Westover VFW Post 9916 – the goal remains the same.
“Ronnie and Sharon brought the community together for so many years. That’s what we want to continue to do with Winterfest,” she said.
Volunteers are currently accepting sponsorships and donations to help support the event.
Donations can be made to The City of Westover, Attn: Winterfest Committee, 500 Dupont Road, Westover, WV 26501 or by contacting wowinterfest@gmail.com.
In other Westover holiday news, the city is making a $500 donation to Edison Electric in support of the business’s annual Turkey Drive.
According to information provided by the city, the goal of the annual event is to support local families in need with Thanksgiving meals.
The business is looking to have 300 meals available for distribution from noon- 2 p.m. Sunday at 9500 Mall Rd.
