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Not even Mother Nature’s rains could stop thousands of festivalgoers young and old, local and tourists from coming out July 3 and 4 to enjoy the 29th annual Christmas in July.

Vice president of the Christmas in July board of directors Jane Lonon, who has seen every Christmas in July, explained the history of the festival.

“It was a project of the Ashe County Christmas Tree Growers Association 29 years ago when the Christmas tree industry in Ashe County was in its infancy and the growers were looking for a way to educate the community about the Fraser fir tree, to bring in buyers to Ashe County so they could see the quality tree and the quality product they had to offer,” Lonon said.

“Out of that group, special events and the festival began slowly and small and just grew to become a real quality event,” she said. “Obviously over the years, the history of the Christmas tree industry in Ashe County is well known, with Ashe County being the No. 1 tree producer in the nation with the reputation for quality like none other. It had its focus to celebrate the trees and Christmas trees, and therefore Christmas.”

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, who has never missed Christmas in July, said she has a special place in her life for the festival.

“I’m a big supporter of the festival,” she said. “It’s a great, great festival. It brings together people I know from all over the country. The beautiful trees up here, having been a tree grower myself, I can truly appreciate those beautiful trees I see here.”

“The trees, by the way, we export more trees than any other county, not in the state, not in the USA, but the entire world,” added Jan Cadell, festival master of ceremonies. “That’s quite an accomplishment.”

As the years have come and gone, Christmas in July has grown from Christmas trees and Santa Claus to an annual celebration of all things Ashe County centric.

“Community spirit is what comes to mind,” Lonon said. “It’s just such a beautiful blend of people working together from a variety of backgrounds, walks of life, experiences, to create something that’s good for Ashe County and to, hopefully, be a fun event, a moneymaking event for businesses for the vendors and to add to the reputation of Ashe County that will encourage people to keep coming back, whether it’s Christmas in July or Christmas at Christmas, or any other month of the year.”

Foxx echoed Lonon’s sentiment.

“I appreciate what the town does and all the folks in the county for working together with all of the volunteers to put together a fantastic event that welcomes people from not only all over the state, but from many other states,” Foxx said. “You show people who aren’t from here what mountain hospitality is.”

The festivities kicked off July 3 with the opening ceremonies as West Jefferson Mayor Dale Baldwin spoke to the masses.

“Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of board of West Jefferson and the town council and the town manager, I’d like to welcome each one of you here,” Baldwin said. “This is the 29th annual Christmas in July Festival. I think the rains are going to stop and I hope you all have a good time and have fun.”

As the opening ceremony ended, the rains came and dispersed the crowd until the next morning.

The streets of downtown West Jefferson quickly returned to their previously packed state July 4 as thousands of men, women and children flooded the area for the Christmas in July experience.

One of the highlights of the festival was the Christmas tree competition, which saw seven of the county’s finest Christmas trees on display for voting.

“I think they’ve outdone themselves this year bringing in some really special trees,” Foxx said. “I want to tell you, I went up and looked at the trees in the tree contest and they are absolutely gorgeous. If you haven’t had a chance to go see what the Cadillac of Christmas trees looks like, go up and see those Fraser firs up the street.”

At the end of the day, Cardinal Tree Farms of West Jefferson took home the blue ribbon for the winning tree.

But Christmas is not always simply about trees and food and presents. It’s about sharing good times with good people and, according to Lonon, that is what is so special about Christmas in July.

“The thematic nature of the festival is a slight misnomer, because while we have Santa Claus and will have some trees and a lot of tree events, it’s a much more broad-based community street festival, ” Lonon said. “There’s a little bit of something for everyone who is here, from fine art with painting and photography and some sculpture to crafts of pottery and woodworking to jewelry making, it runs the gamut. We have a brew maker this year, several basket makers, people who are preserving their indigenous art forms. People come to do a little bit of shopping and to cruise on foot and meet and greet and see all of their friends on the streets of West Jefferson. The farmers’ market, of course, is open as part of the footprint of the festival. Our nonprofit row is bigger this year then it has been before. It’s such a good way for local organizations to fundraise, to showcase the good works they do in the community and to let visitors to our community, as well as folks who live here, know what’s going on. There’s lots of activities for children with a moonwalk and a giant slide and the obstacle course, which is always fun. Santa Claus, of course, will be here. Jugglers, mimes, clowns, a gal doing balloon sculptures and balloon art for the kids, it just goes on from there.

“I think as West Jefferson has grown and changed through the arts, and as Ashe County, itself, has become more and more known as an arts mecca, to have a reputation for appreciating, celebrating, supporting and nurturing the arts, and an understanding that the arts are such an intricate part of economic development and community revitalization and beautification, it was just sort of a natural outburst that what was happening in the county and West Jefferson through the arts was reflected and mirrored in the Christmas in July Festival, as well,” Lonon said.

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