St. Albans' Christmas events are drawing record crowds, council members learned Monday evening.
"We had one of the largest parades and one of the largest turnouts we've had in recent years," Mayor Dick Callaway said of the city's Dec. 5 Christmas parade.
The holiday boat parade attracted about 650 people who had an opportunity to not only view the colorfully lit boats but could also roast sweet potatoes and marshmallows.
Several new businesses were open in time for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, he said.
Holiday events have been listed on the city's website, mysawv.com. The site attracted 12,000 visitors in the first 48 hours after events were listed, Callaway said.
Ward 8 Councilman Kevin Pennington, who chairs the Parks Committee, reported that 3,000 cars have already toured the Festival of Lights at City Park. He encouraged residents to bring families out to see the displays.
The Festival of Lights is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 23 and again on Dec. 26. The festival is closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.
"Christmas is going well in St. Albans," Callaway said. "We hope a lot more folks will come visit us."
St. Albans council breezed through a light agenda in a 12-minute meeting. Council agreed to pay current invoices, which total $21,145 and referred a proposed revision to the city code regarding a business and occupation tax exemption to the Ordinance Committee.
Also at the meeting, Ward 7 Councilman Desper Lemon praised Callaway for the mayor's work with the Drug Task Force, the city's Teen Court and its truancy program.
Ward 2 Councilman Jason Philabaun, Ward 4 Councilwoman Cheryl Thomas, Ward 5 Councilman Christopher Withrow, Ward 6 Councilwoman Loretta Griffith and Councilman-at-large John Boles Jr., who is fighting health issues, did not attend the meeting.
Council's next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 on the second floor of the municipal building, 51 Sixth Ave.