From left, Mandy Philpott, Carry Wilson and Mary Eddy of The Janes will perform at Hometown Christmas at 7 p.m. Friday at the Smoot Theatre in downtown Parkersburg. (Photo by Bo Wriston)

PARKERSBURG — The annual Hometown Christmas show featuring local talent takes the stage at 7 p.m. Friday at the Smoot Theatre in Parkersburg.

“It’s good to have local names,” said Felice Jorgeson, artistic director at the historic theater.

Tickets for Hometown Christmas are $20 each and are available at the Smoot website, https://www.smoottheatre.com. The 7 p.m. start time is new starting this season.

Friday’s show will be in honor of Angie Harkness-Martin, who died the past week, Jorgeson said. She was involved in the concert as a bass player.

“I’ve dedicated this to her. This show,” she said.

From left, pianist Cathy Mace and daughter Mandy Philpott perform at the 2024 edition of Hometown Christmas at the Smoot Theatre in Parkersburg. The 2025 show will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the theater. (Photo by Bo Wriston)

Hometown Christmas, besides music, will include descriptions and reminisces of downtown Parkersburg in past Christmas holidays, Jorgeson said. Photographs taken years ago during Christmas show a much more vibrant and festive downtown Parkersburg than it is today, Jorgeson said.

“It was a hopping place,” she said. “Of course, it’s not a hopping place today.”

Among performers with the Smoot House Band on Friday is Marsha Parsons, who will sing “Silver Bells,” Jorgeson said. The song creates images of people in a downtown setting, shopping for Christmas presents and enjoying the season, she said.

“That song best reminds me of the holidays,” Jorgeson said.

Other performers include Duane Flesher, a piano player who once played with Landau Murphy before returning to Parkersburg, flutist Melissa Herceg, trumpeter Stephen Smith, the Eddy Family and Hughie Lovelady, who played the saxophone in Las Vegas for 46 years, Jorgesen said. Lovelady also returned to Parkersburg, she said.

Brett Meade and Marsha Parsons in a performance at Hometown Christmas in 2024 at the Smoot Theatre in Parkersburg. Tickets are $20 for this year’s show at 7 p.m. Friday at the theater on Fifth Street in Parkersburg. (Photo by Bo Wriston)

“He’s here and we use him,” she said.

Jason Barr, a professor of music at Glenville State University, also will perform, Jorgeson said.

The show will include the addition of a violin, viola and cello to the band and a group from the Children’s Chorus at the theater will sing “Because It’s Christmas” by Barry Manilow with the band, Jorgeson said.

In addition to “Silver Bells” and “Because Its Christmas,” other songs on the showbill are “Mary Did You Know,” with Lovelady on saxophone, “Oh Christmas Tree” in a blues style by Flesher, “All is Well” by the string players, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by Barr and Herceg on a piccolo, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” by Smith on trumpet and Herceg on the flute and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with Lovelady.

“Merry Christmas Darling” by The Carpenters will be performed acapella by the Smoot Singers, Jorgeson said. Singers are Brett Meade, Dave Rexroad, R.J. Lowe, Bob Heflin, Marsha Parsons, Barbara Full and Su Meredith, Jorgeson said.

Saxophonist Hughie Lovelady returns this year for the 2025 Hometown Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Friday at the Smoot Theatre in downtown Parkersburg. Tickets are $20 and are available at the theater website, www.smoottheatre.com. (Photo by Bo Wriston)

“These are names people will recognize,” Jorgeson said.