(Photo by Gwen Sour) Heidi Diamond takes a picture of Santa and Colt Diamond Saturday during Winterfest.

PARKERSBURG — Families gathered Saturday evening at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg for Winterfest, a free, family-focused community event that included visits with Santa, children’s activities, live performances, a city tree lighting and fireworks.

Winterfest is organized by Downtown PKB and has been held for about 10 years, according to Amanda Stevens, executive director of Downtown PKB. She said most activities were free to the public.

The event featured photo opportunities with Santa Claus on the stage, multiple local performing groups throughout the evening, including the Southern Belles Dance Team from Parkersburg South High School and The Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet, and activities designed for children. Stevens said the city tree lighting and fireworks took place at 6 p.m.

“We have visits with Santa on the stage, and you can get your picture with him, and there will be several local performing groups at different times throughout the evening,” she said. “We have several activities for children, all free, and at six o’clock we will have the city tree lighting and fireworks.”

Stevens said Winterfest is intended to give residents an opportunity to gather during the winter months.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Attendees huddle around heaters to keep warm Saturday during Winterfest held in Bicentennial Park.

“It’s just a chance for people to get out of their house and come down and mingle with other families and just be a part of the community and enjoy what’s down here,” she said. “It seems like there’s so many festivals and events in the summer that it’s kind of nice to have something like this in the winter months that people can get out and enjoy.”

Winterfest followed Parkersburg’s Christmas parade earlier in the day and concluded with a concert at St. Francis Xavier Church on Market Street, which Stevens said was also part of the Winterfest schedule.

“To me, this is the essence of what a community is,” Stevens said. “You know, come downtown and see the decorated storefronts, see the marching bands and the Christmas parade, and then come down, have some hot chocolate and the city tree lighting.”

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Parkersburg South High School’s Southern Belles Dance Team performs at Winterfest on Saturday at Bicentennial Park.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Kristen McCartney takes a picture of Kenall Smith, Mrs. Claus and Sammy White during Winterfest in Parkersburg on Saturday.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Clara McBridge gets her face painted by Amy Stockl at Winterfest on Saturday.