PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend will kick off the holiday season with the annual community Christmas tree lighting Saturday.
The event will start at 1 p.m. with the Wild Rose Chorale, a local chorus that will walk throughout downtown singing until 3 p.m.
The annual community tree lighting will be at 4:30 p.m. The tree is located at Haller Fountain in downtown Port Townsend.
Santa will light the tree after arriving on the Kiwanis Choo Choo, along with Port Townsend Mayor Deborah Stinson, to flip the switch.
Taylor Street will be closed for the procession, but Mari Mullen of the Port Townsend Main Street Program, which coordinates this annual event, said Santa’s entrance is a favorite for local families.
“We like to say that Santa starts his world tour in Port Townsend,” Mullen said.
This year’s tree is a roughly 10-foot noble fir selected by the parks department. Many of the ornaments were made by local third-grade students, but the tree itself was decorated by volunteers and members of the Port Townsend Main Street Program earlier this week.
After lighting the tree, Santa will go to the Cotton Building, 607 Water St., to visit with children, take photos and listen to Christmas wishes.
“We think it’s a great way to start off a hometown holiday celebration,” Mullen said. “I think it’s just some hometown holiday fun.”
The tree lighting also coincides with the Saturday Art Walk and stores will be open late, offering snacks and refreshments to people shopping for the holidays.
According to Mullen, the tree lighting usually draws several hundred people, especially if the weather cooperates.
Quilcene also will be getting into the holiday spirit with its community Christmas tree lighting Saturday night.
Santa will make an entrance, arriving in a horse-drawn carriage, to turn on the lights of the community Christmas tree.
Quilcene’s community tree lighting will be from 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the U.S. Post Office in Quilcene, which is at 294843 U.S. Highway 101.
Christmas carols will be sung to celebrate the occasion.
Cookies and hot cocoa will be available.
Photos can be taken with Santa, who will stick around to hear the Christmas wishes of Quilcene’s children.
Another tree lighting is planned in Nordland on Marrowstone Island.
Lights on the community tree will glow after Santa arrives at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Nordland General Store, 7180 Flagler Road.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
