Who-liday Celebration draws Small Business Saturday shoppers to Shepherdstown

Magic Mirror Designs owner Sarah Berkey, left, shows seven-year-old Aubrey Steele the painted design on her face, in the War Memorial Building on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Children filled the seats in the War Memorial Building ballroom, as Johnny O! Your Friendly Neighborhood Tricky Person, performed a comedic magic show routine on Saturday afternoon.

After the show ended, the children then indulged in a number of other free activities in the ballroom, including taking photos with Santa Claus and having their faces painted by Magic Mirror Designs owner Sarah Berkey. They were also welcome to munch on cookies, popcorn, rice crispy treats and hot chocolate, provided for free by Who-liday Celebration organizer Judy Shepherd.

“This is a celebration to thank people for coming in and shopping in town on Small Business Saturday,” Shepherd said. “I don’t know if they realize it, but if they spend $100 in three different places, it keeps the town alive!”

According to Shepherd, the Who-liday Celebration has been going on since 2004, as a way to encourage families to come out and participate in Small Business Saturday. The event was founded by the Shepherdstown Business Association and is now sponsored by the Shepherdstown Visitor Center, the businesses of Shepherdstown and the Shepherdstown Community Club.

While some things about the celebration have changed, from year-to-year, one thing that has remained the same has been its magician. Johnny O! said that only one year has he not performed the magic show — last year, when he needed to have an emergency surgery.

Johnny O! Your Friendly Neighborhood Tricky Person performs a magic trick with the help of Frisky the Fox at the Who-liday Celebration in the War Memorial Building on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston

“Last year, I had a rupture in my arm and I needed to have an emergency replacement, so another magician filled in for me last-minute,” Johnny O! said, mentioning he was sad to have missed the event. “This is my favorite event of my year. I’ve gotten to watch so many of these kids grow up over the years, and some of them now come to see the show with their own kids!”

He said the location of the event particularly helps to make it memorable, with the War Memorial Building being a historic building right in the heart of Shepherdstown.

“The Who-liday Celebration is full of the magic of Christmas,” Johnny O! said, “And I love magic!”

Across the room, seven-year-old Aubrey Steele was getting to experience some of that magic, as her face was painted with a colorful holiday design and dusted with glitter. Though this was the first time she had come to the Who-liday Celebration, her mother said this would be far from the last.

“We saw this advertised on social media and loved that it was free!” said Amanda Steele. “They made it a magical experience for the kids. We’ll definitely be back next year!”