An Appalachian Christmas Vacation
Italian Appalachian people celebrate Christmas a little differently than other parts of Appalachia. And you’re invited!
Explore West Virginia by taking an Appalachian Christmas Vacation
Give yourself a whole new Christmas experience where Christmas lights, fish and colonial forts all somehow make sense.
Whether you’re Italian, Appalachian or a snuffy (a non-Italian person), you’re welcome to experience the magic of Christmas, the nostalgia of the hills and the beauty of culture. Sign up now and have your holiday vacation the Italian-Appalachian way.
How To Get Started
Get your free Appalachian Christmas Vacation Holiday Passport and start unlocking points as you experience a new kind of holiday season. Check in at each stop using your phone’s GPS. Earn points as you go, then redeem them for prizes!
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Get yourself a few holiday gifts
Earn points with every event you attend. Prizes are shipped within 6-8 weeks of product redemption.
10 Points
20 Points
30 Points
Disclaimer: To be eligible for prizes, the address entered for shipment must be outside of the following West Virginia counties: Marion, Monongalia, Harrison, Lewis, Barbour, Doddridge, Taylor, Preston, Tyler, Wetzel, Upshur, Gilmer, Braxton, Tucker, Randolph.
Plan for these holiday events now
Check in for 10 Points Each
You can enjoy those 500+ Christmas lights through the end of November and throughout all of December. The 1.3 mile loop at Morris Park glows bright every night and sees thousands of cars. Drive through the lights with a perfectly curated Spotify Christmas playlist, a seasonal drink and family and friends.
After creating an annual Christmas light show at their house for six years, the Lenhart family is bringing the festivities to downtown Fairmont. 2025 was the inaugural Christmas Village and Light Show. The entire scene will feature Christmas lights synced with music.
This is the Italian American event of the holiday season! The Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival is an inclusive weekend where snuffies (defined as non-Italian people) can join in the tradition of eating fish, frittis and wine. During the Festival, Monroe Street in downtown Fairmont is filled with vendors serving delicious foods, like fish, Italian sausage, frittis, kettlecorn, wine and more.
On the first night of the Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival, Festival Cucina allows you to experience the real thing. Watch and learn as Italians prepare seven fish dishes (and dessert) right in front of your eyes. Taste test each recipe alongside plenty of wine and jokes. Grab your tickets before they sell out.
Check in for 20 Points Each
Bundle up for a colonial Christmas. Pricketts Fort State Park hosts tours of and demonstrations at the Fort and Job Prickett House just four times throughout the month of December. Two Christmas Candlelight tours and three day-time Christmas tours allow you to experience how the settlers celebrated their traditions and how they maintained the fort and home for the wintry weather.
End the new year the Italian-Appalachian way. Come out to Mannington on New Year’s Eve to eat pepperoni rolls and pepperoni roll themed foods, listen to good music and wait. At the countdown to midnight, cue Country Roads and a giant pepperoni roll lowering from the sky. It’s a sight to behold and an experience you’ll never forget. Get even more points by joining the WV Pepperoni Roll Trail!
Get Your Complete Holiday Guide
Make the most of your Appalachian Christmas Vacation with even more West Virginia cheer. Take a look at the Complete Holiday Guide to Marion County for details on events like Winter at Woodlawn, Glow Bowl and more.
Adventure Between Lights
Fill your time between holiday hoobie whaties with outdoor recreation opportunities. Pack a pepperoni roll and hike the wintry trails at Valley Falls State Park or any of our 18 miles of rail trails – the perfect winter outing to complement your holiday adventures.