The Tri-State area is preparing for the holiday season with a variety of events throughout the month of December.

Marshall University will kick off the holiday season with the second annual Herd Holiday celebration by lighting the 20-foot Christmas tree on the Memorial Student Center plaza. The celebration will continue inside with hot chocolate, s’mores and other festivities.

The Barboursville Christmas tree in the Nancy Cartmill Gardens will be lit following the Barboursville Christmas parade, starting 6 p.m. Thursday. Hot Cocoa and caroling will be provided for visitors.

The city of Huntington will start its Christmas celebration with the lighting of the Big Sandy Superstore Arena Christmas tree. The ceremony will include performances by the Cabell Midland Rhythm in Red Show Choir and Huntington Dance Theater.

The Huntington Christmas Parade of Lights will take place at 5:15 p.m.  Dec. 12. The parade route will follow down Fourth Avenue and turn onto Third Avenue at Eighth Street, ending at the Pullman Square Pavilion. The parade will feature floats from area businesses and will include a visit from Santa Claus.

Christmas movie buffs can see some of their favorite Christmas flicks on the silver screen at the Kyova 10 Theater in Cannonsburg, Kentucky. The Christmas Film Series is already underway and will continue Wednesday, with “Home Alone.” Visitors can see “Elf” Monday, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Dec. 9, “It’s a Wonderful Life” Dec. 14, and finish with “Christmas Vacation” Dec. 16. Admission to watch one of the Christmas movies is five cans of food or a $5 donation, which will go to the River Cities Harvest.

The 27th Winter Wonderland of Lights in Ashland, Kentucky is now open in the Ashland City Park. Visitors can park their vehicles and walk through the display, or drive through the park and enjoy the lights from the comfort of their car. There is no cost to see the lights.

As a part of the Winter Wonderland of Lights in Ashland, visitors can take a ride on the Winter Wonderland Express. The train runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday until Dec. 20. Train rides are $3 per person.

MacKenzi Kyle can be contacted at [email protected].