From left, Ella Dawson, 6, of Chester studies her Bingo card, as Jessica Robertson, also of Chester, looks on during a Kids’ Bingo contest last year during the Chester Hometown Christmas held in the basement of the Chester Veterans of Foreign Wars. (File photo)

CHESTER — The city’s annual Hometown Christmas festivities are back this year with a new organizing team is at the helm.

Megan Eckleberry is overseeing Chester’s small-town celebration, while most of the familiar favorites are set mixed in new adventures on Saturday, Dec. 6.

New this year is the Chester Hometown Christmas Pageant.

Eckleberry said that 30 West Virginia residents have signed up for the photo contest, which has eight divisions for adults and children.

Entrants paid per photo entered with the winners being announced Dec. 1.

While being held virtually during its first year, Eckleberry said that the hope is to have the pageant held in person during future events. Winners selected in pageants during future events.

Also new this year is a live nativity offered through the cooperative effort of city churches from 1-3 p.m. complete with animals at Trinity Parish.

Chester Home and Hardware as well as Builders’ Wholesale will sponsor gingerbread village decorating from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Badgley Pavilion of Chester City Park.

The first 150 participants will decorate a wooden gingerbread house replica designed by 8DubYou Craftsmanship with all supplies provided. Families also will get the opportunity to make reindeer feed and participate in other festive activities during the Badgley event.

Most of the Christmas festival’s favorites like the decorating contest for businesses. This year, there also is a competition for residents with the top three finishers earning home improvement cards.

Like in previous years, Hometown Christmas kicks off with Allison Elementary School PTO’s Jingle Jog 5K will return at 9 a.m.

The street artisan and vendor fair also will start at 9 a.m. along Carolina Avenue as will the American Legion Auxiliary’s craft show indoor at the Legion.

Once again the Chester Volunteer Fire Department will host a benefit basket auction and 50/50 for FISH at the Chester fire station. The Chester Lions Club chili cookout is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m..

Cookies with Santa, which needed more room, was relocated to the Chester Municipal Building multi-purpose room, where it will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. An inflatable obstacle course and other children activities will be hosted there.

Free carriage rides once again will be offered from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with staging in the area of 5th Street and the Citizens Bank parking lot.

The Chester Veterans of Foreign Wars will host the fire department’s annual kids’ Christmas BINGO at noon in their basement.

Caricature and balloon artists, will be hosted in the area of 4th and Carolina.

This year’s parade grand marshal is Ethan Cheuvront. “Ethan is a joyful young man whose smile brightens every room he is in,” said Eckleberry. A talented self-taught musician, Ethan has learned to play the harmonica and often has jam session with his uncle Bryan,” she explained.

His longtime dream has been to be “conductor” for a parade – Chester Hometown Christmas decided to name him grand marshal this year.

Eckleberry added, “His kindness, creativity and joyful spirit perfectly capture the heart of our hometown celebration.”

Spots in the parade, which is being held at 3 p.m. (with a 2 p.m. lineup), are still being accepted up to 2 p.m. the day of the event.

Saturday’s festivities will be preceded by the city of Chester’s Light Up Night sponsored by the Chester Lions Club, Hancock County Family Support Center and Chester Beautification Committee on Friday night at the Virginia Springs pavilion in downtown.

Photo contest winners also will be in attendance during light up night, which also includes caroling and Santa up until the tree lighting at 6 p.m.