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If you go

What: Fourth annual Christmas in the Village, featuring 79 crafters, vendors and retailers.

When: Begins at 9 a.m., Saturday. Progressive shopping until parade starts at 5.

Where: Barlow, Vincent, Veto and Bartlett areas; specific stops include Barlow Library, Dunham and Barlow volunteer fire departments, Barlow-Vincent Elementary School and at eight area homes. Maps are available at area businesses.

What: Village Christmas Illuminated Parade.

When: Saturday, line-up at 4 p.m., parade begins at 5.

Where: Begins at Barlow-Vincent Elementary School, will go up Warrior Drive, turn left onto Ohio 550 and end at the Barlow Fairgrounds.

Details: Units must be illuminated, and walkers must have flashlights. Community tree lighting to follow at the fairgrounds.

For more information: Susie Ashley at (740) 236-3502.

What: A fundraiser for the Western Washington County Food Pantry.

When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Barlow Volunteer Fire Department.

Needed: Items to restock the food pantry, including food, household cleaning products and personal care items.

For more information: (740) 516-4085.

The communities of Veto, Barlow, Vincent and Bartlett will come alive with Christmas spirit this Saturday as the area celebrates the fourth annual Christmas in the Village, Village Christmas Parade and Festival of Lights.

"We started small," said organizer Susie Ashley. "We had 12 stops the first year, and now we're up to 32."

The "progressive shopping" stops include 79 crafters and vendors as well as retailers in the area.

"When we started this four years ago, my goal was to get the community involved and they really have. Everyone has been so supportive," Ashley said.

Crafters will be set up at the Dunham Volunteer Fire Department on Veto Road, Barlow-Vincent Elementary School, Barlow Volunteer Fire Department on Warrior Drive, the Barlow branch of the Washington County Public Library and eight area homes.

Kelly Goethel, of Lewis Pointe, is an independent Longaberger consultant and one of the vendors and crafters that will be at the Barlow fire station. There will also be locally made candles, baked goods, skin care consultants, a gentleman who makes pens out of "interesting" items and a gold refinery, according to Goethel.

"People can bring in their old sterling silver or gold and get cash for it," she said.

The annual deer hunter's lunch will also be at the firehouse, and donations of cleaning supplies, personal items, non-perishable food items or cash will be accepted for the Western Washington County Food Pantry.

"This time of year, it's important to take care of others, too," Goethel said.

Churches in the area are also getting involved this year with the Lighthouse Baptist Church, located at 8135 Ohio 339, Vincent, offering a free lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and other churches offering refreshments.

Participating retail stores include White Oak Pharmacy, Seaman's General Merchandise and Sweetapple Farm.

Local merchants from Corner, on Ohio 339 just north of Ohio 7, to Layman, on Ohio 550 west of Barlow, sponsor the event. Crafters and merchants in homes will be open from 9 a.m. 4 p.m., and retailers will be open for their normal hours with Christmas specials.

Maps including participating vendors and retail merchants are available for pick-up at area businesses. The maps will only show roads with participating merchants.

"Nearly every merchant and crafter in the area has chosen to participate this year, and I couldn't be happier," Ashley said. "With the way the economy has been this past year, my goal is to help each and every retail and crafting business with the Christmas in the Village."

This will also be the third year for the Village Christmas Parade, with lineup at 4 p.m. at Barlow-Vincent Elementary School. Last year's parade was canceled because of bad weather.

The parade, led by Warren High School's Marching Warriors, will go up Warrior Drive, turn left onto Ohio 550 and end at the Barlow Fairgrounds. Routes 339 and 550 will be closed for the parade, and Ashley recommends this area as the best for viewing the procession.

Those who would like to participate in the parade, which is sponsored by the Scenic Hills Lions Club, do not need to pre-register or pay a fee, just show up. Because the parade will take place in the evening, all floats must be illuminated and walkers must carry flashlights.

The parade will end with the lighting of the community Christmas tree and lights festival in the fairgrounds. Ashley will also be accepting donations to help with the electric bill at the fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at the Bartlett Farmers Bank.

Ashley says she and her husband, Roger, were mentored by the organizers of the Belpre holiday lights display and have since helped other communities get their own celebrations off the ground as a way to "pay it forward."

"It is always just so beautiful," said Ashley. "I'm always quoting as saying this, but it really is a wonderful life in the Barlow-Vincent-Veto area."

Jolene Craig contributed.