Belleville’s Winter Fest runs all day Saturday, Dec. 7

The big lighted Winter Fest parade begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday in Belleville, but family activities are taking place all day long.
The ice sculptures are expected to be in place around town and expected to stay firm this year because of the predicted frigid temperatures.
A pancake breakfast will be held at the Methodist Church to begin the day.
The Jingle Bell Run starts at 9:45 a.m. at Horizon Park and runs over the Denton Road Bridge and back to earn money for the Van Buren Public Schools Education Foundation.
There will be movies and cookie decorating at the Belleville-Area District Library in the afternoon, with “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” being shown at 2:30 p.m. and “The Polar Express” at 3 p.m.
There’s wine tasting at Main Street Flowers and a bounce house for children at the corner of Third and Main.
The Belleville Area Museum opens its doors to show off its Festival of Holiday Trees, which features a silent auction to win decorated trees at a Dec. 10 drawing.
Skating will be going on all day at the Fourth Street Square, courtesy of the BYC, who will loan out ice skates to those who came to town without them. Actually, the skating will begin on Friday and also be available on Sunday.
The Belleville Area Council for the Arts will host a kids crafting area in the Chamber offices during the afternoon. They also will be selling hot cocoa and goodies in the afternoon.
There will be a Soup Crawl on Fourth Street with a dozen vendors and caroling starting at 3 p.m., featuring the Bethany Choir at 4:30 p.m. with Main Street closed for the festival goers. The parade starts at 6 p.m.
Santa, who is brought to town on a fire engine at the end of the parade, will be given the Key to the City and then help light the Christmas tree in front of the museum.
Santa then walks over to the United Methodist Church to talk to the children.
A live nativity scene will also be outside the front door at the Methodist Church.
Fireworks will begin about 7:30 p.m. from the Denton Road Bridge.
Winter Fest is sponsored by the Belleville-Area Chamber of Commerce and many other local organizations.