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PARKERSBURG - Residents kicked off their holiday season with the annual "Trees of Our Heritage" exhibit Sunday at the Blennerhassett Museum.

''This is our annual open house for the museum,'' said Pam Salisbury, special events coordinator for the museum. ''We have had around 400-500 people with us visiting (Sunday) afternoon.''

The exhibit, which features many decorated Christmas trees and other culture-centric exhibits, is sponsored by the museum and the Friends of Blennerhassett and will run through Dec 31. The friends, residents and local organizations work year-round to prepare for the reception and exhibit opening.

Christmas trees on display have been decorated by groups with ornaments representing the countries of origin of immigrants settled in America. Among those are Africa, the Caribbean Islands, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, Canada, China, Hungary, Japan and Puerto Rico.

''They are all based on different countries and some are special theme trees,'' Salisbury said. ''They use ornaments that are traditional for that culture. We tried to represent different countries from around the world.''

The exhibit helps residents think about their heritage and from where their ancestors came.

''We are all from some point of origin, whether we are of European decent or of somewhere else in the world,'' Salisbury said. ''The exhibit is to make that connection we all have as well as our connection with history here in the Mid-Ohio Valley.''

In addition to the exhibits, guests enjoyed performances by the Valley Voices, the Parkersburg South High School Madrigals, the Blennerhassett Dancers and the Williamstown Strings Youth Players. Children worked on crafts and visited with Father Christmas.

The reception also featured ethnic foods from various countries represented in the tree exhibit which Salisbury said helped tie into the cultural theme of the event.

''We have been putting this event on for about 12 or 13 years,'' she said. ''This event has just grown over the years.''

The event is organized by volunteers who help around the museum and Blennerhassett Island.

''It is also an opportunity for us at the museum and the Friends of Blennerhassett to give back to the community,'' Salisbury said.

Charlotte Smith of Washington, W.Va. said this was her third time to the "Trees of Our Heritage."

''This is the way we like to start off celebrating the season,'' she said. ''I just love all of it.''

Angela Winter of Parkersburg was a first-time visitor having been convinced by a friend to see what it was all about. She brought her daughter, Amber, who wrote a letter to Father Christmas and did crafts.

''We have never done anything like this before,'' Angela Winter said. ''We came down to enjoy it. It is beautiful. There is a lot of history here and there is a lot to learn.''

Jeanne Tasse of Marietta had family visiting her this weekend and she decided to bring them to the museum for the afternoon.

''I thought it would be interesting for them to see the Blennerhassett Museum as well as the trees and participate in the festivities,'' she said.

Since being a member of the Blennerhassett Foundation board, Tasse said she attends the event about every year. She was very pleased with the turnout from the public.

''I think it is wonderful,'' Tasse said. '' I think it was wonderful to see the dancers, dancing the minuet in costume. When I came in, there was singing of Christmas carols. It added to the effect of the whole display and all of the festivities.''