BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The Inez City Commission, in a special city meeting Sept. 12, pledged $4,500 to the upcoming Christmas in the Mountains festival. They will also provide a street worker to assist with the decorations.
Several Christmas in the Mountains committee members attended the meeting to outline their remaining budgetary needs of “$4,000 to $5,000” for this year’s festival.
“We’re just requesting whatever you want to put toward our needs,” festival representative Linda Lou Webb said.
“We want to be a Christmas destination. We want people to come here and bring their families, bringing revenue to our restaurants and businesses…People are coming from Pittsburgh this year. So we are becoming that Christmas destination.”
She added, “We need more hotels. We’ve had people calling asking, ‘Where can we stay?’ So that’s something we need to think about – somebody needs to think along those lines.”
Mayor Ed Daniels recommended the city donate $3,000-$3,500.
“That’s my opinion,” said Daniels. “What is yours?”
Commissioners Carolynn Horn, Roy Penix, Jennifer Wells and Nita Collier agreed.
“It brings in the crowds,” commented Penix.
“I’m sitting here thinking ‘more,’” said Collier. “Can we afford to do $5,000?”
Horn commented, “Well, she said she needs $4,000 to $4,500, so let’s go with $4,500.”
The city donated $2,000 in 2022 and $250 in 2021.
Christmas in the Mountains commences Nov. 26 with A Merry Little Christmas Party, where a new Mr. and Ms. Christmas in the Mountains will be crowned at the Collier Center.
Webb recounted a touching story from last year when a visitor was moved to tears by the decorations in Inez: “A woman from West Virginia came to town, drove through, and she explicitly said the City of Inez was decorated so beautifully she cried when she came into town. She said she had not felt the Christmas spirit for 14 years over something that had happened in her life. As soon as she drove through, she was able to cry and just enjoy it.”
Webb added, “So it’s for that kind of reason – for the grandmas whose daughters drive them around. They’ll say, ‘This is our fifth time through, this is our sixth time through.’ For the elderly who can’t get out and go to Ashland, can’t go to Logan, for the kids who come Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from the schools, who have never rode a carousel in their lives. They’ll say, “I’ve never been on a horse,’ or ‘I’ve never had cotton candy.’ That is what you all are helping support. It’s not for us. It’s for the children, the elderly and the community. We just love being a part of that.”
Webb announced the festival’s plans to have the ice skating rink for four days.
Mayor Daniels told the Christmas in the Mountains committee that the city hopes to have its decorations up by the second week of November.
“That’s what we were hoping for – to turn everything on by Nov. 10,” said Webb. “People who are in for Thanksgiving will be able to see our lights.”
Decorations and displays will extend to Park Place on Route 40, the health department on Old Route 3, and further on Route 40 on the town’s east end. New additions will include a display featuring a 7-foot Nutcracker and three 6-foot illuminated ballerinas.
“We’re excited about that,” said Webb.
In a gesture of community support, Christmas in the Mountains contributed to the Martin County Harvest Fest by gifting a lighted pumpkin display. Webb reflected on this act, saying, “We believe in sowing.”
Mayor Daniels and the commissioners commended the festival representatives for their dedication and efforts, recognizing the joy and economic benefits the event brings to the city.