There won’t be 10,000 people from the Upper Ohio Valley lining Main and Market streets this evening for the annual Main Street Bank Fantasy of Lights Parade in downtown Wheeling.
It was canceled. Covid, ya know. Ohio County is “orange” and that is the level below the deadly “red” designation in the state of West Virginia. The Wheeling Chamber’s president, Erikka Storch had no other choice because of the hundreds of kids, band members, and the float goers who were set to participate during the event.
So, no waving Santa in downtown Wheeling this evening, and the same is true in mostly all other communities throughout the Upper Ohio Valley.
But there may be an opportunity to stage the parade albeit in a much different format, and that’s because the city of Wheeling is blessed with Oglebay Park and its annual Festival of Lights. Along the 12 miles of displays are several flat areas, and it’s those locations where the entries could situate and participate during a reverse parade during which the spectators could be ones driving by.
This year’s parade had about 60 entries (this option might add more if action is taken quickly), and those performers could rotate at Schenk Lake and Good Zoo while bands could perform at the pool-or-lodge intersection near Observatory Field. The floats could become more social distanced than planned and be resting in the Pine Room and Speidel/Jones parking lots.
The Wheeling American Legion Post 1 Color Guard could be posting the colors in the field just passed the Wheeling Country Club along W.Va. Route 88, and the parade could be scheduled for a Friday or Saturday night during a three-hour window for motorists, but could still be broadcast by the local television stations utilizing strategic staff placements and creative, live direction.
All the while, those who choose to attend can enjoy the park’s Festival of Lights attractions and, NO, if you do not wish to donate at the drive-by booth near the Children’s Center, you do not have to.
Are there challenging logistics involved? Yes. But can some accepted semblance of the Main Street Bank Fantasy of Lights Parade still occur so the children can finally perform?
Yes, it can.
