‘Tis the weekend of more North Olympic Peninsula holiday festivities

Santa Claus is walking in Forks’ Twinkle Light Holiday Parade and arriving in Port Townsend by boat this weekend.

The holiday season also will be full of lights, music, decorations and good cheer.

Here is a list of the weekend’s holiday events.

Cherish children

LAPUSH – The Annual Cherish Our Children holiday fundraiser will be at 5 p.m. today.

Silent and live auctions will be at the A-Ka-Lat Center in LaPush. Dinner and photos with Santa Claus are also planned.

All proceeds go to the city of Forks and the Quileute tribe to support holiday gift-giving programs for needy children.

Forks tree festival

FORKS – Decorated trees will be auctioned off on Sunday after an open house on Saturday during the Soroptimist International of the Olympic Rain Forest’s annual Festival of Trees.

The theme this year is “All Things Bright and Beautiful.”

The open house, which is at the Bank of America, 481 S. Forks Ave., will be at 1 p.m., following the judging of the trees at 10 a.m. that day.

The trees will also be on display during the Moonlight Madness sale among Forks businesses from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. today.

The live auction will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, phone Dina Gaydeski at 360-374-2436 or e-mail her at dinaewleaf@hotmail.com.

Santa, tree lighting

PORT TOWNSEND – Santa Claus will arrive by sea aboard The Gladys Mae, piloted by Curtis Schloe, at Union Wharf, located in the central downtown business district, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Mayor Mark Welch will escort Santa Claus on a Port Townsend Livery’s horse and carriage to the Haller Fountain on Washington and Taylor streets.

The Wild Rose Chorale will lead a parade of carolers to the fountain for the tree lighting.

Following the tree lighting, the grand prize winner of the $1,000 in town dollars Hometown Holiday Sweepstakes will be announced.

Taylor Street will be closed to traffic during the tree lighting festivities.

For more information, click on www.ptguide.com/mainstreet.

Holiday parade

FORKS – Frosty the Snowman, Mr. Jelly Belly and Santa Claus are expected to wave to the crowd during the Twinkle Light Holiday Parade on Saturday.

The parade in downtown Forks will begin at C Street at 6:30 p.m. and travel north on Forks Avenue to Wood Avenue.

Floats, cars and boats will be decorated in lights and festive decorations.

Parade participants include the Coast Guard, city of Forks and the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.

Following the parade, stores will be open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. for a holiday sale.

For more information, phone JT’s Sweet Stuffs, event sponsor, 360-374-6111.

Operation Candy Cane

PORT ANGELES – The Port Angeles Fire Department’s 23rd annual Operation Candy Cane will be held from Saturday through Thursday.

Volunteer and paid firefighters and Santa Claus will travel through the streets of Port Angeles on a decorated 1956 Seagrave fire engine handing out candy canes and collect cans of food or money for the Salvation Army and the Port Angeles Food Bank.

These collection routes will each begin at 5:30 p.m.:

  • Saturday – West of I Street and M Street.

  • Sunday – I and L streets to C Street.

  • Monday – C Street to Lincoln Street.

  • Tuesday – Chase Street to Chambers Street.

  • Wednesday – Jones Street to Golf Course Road.

  • Thursday – Above Lauridsen Blvd.

    Art walk, tree lighting

    QUILCENE – The first annual Christmas tree decorating ceremony will be in Quilcene Saturday in conjunction with the First Saturday of the Month art walk.

    Following the art walk, Quilcene’s Christmas tree decorating ceremony will be held at the Post Office.

    Hot cider will be served at 5:30 p.m.

    The tree lighting and Christmas carols will begin at 6 p.m.

    Santa Claus and Smokey Bear will be at the ceremony.

    Participants will have the opportunity to take photos with Santa Claus.

    Businesses involved in the art walk are Olympic Art Gallery, corner of U.S. Highway 101 and Washington Street; the Quilcene Gallery, corner of U.S. Highway 101 and Church Street; and Collectables and Local Art, 294773 U.S. Highway 101.

    Each business will serve refreshments from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    For more information, phone Sally Brown at 360-765-0200, or e-mail info@olympicartgallery.com.

    Holiday open house

    PORT TOWNSEND – The Northwest Maritime Center & Wooden Boat Foundation Annual Holiday Open House will be from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

    The open house will be at the Cupola House, 380 Jefferson St., at Hudson Point.

    For more information, phone 360-385-3628 or visit www.nwmaritime.org.

    Holiday bazaar

    PORT TOWNSEND – The St. Mary Star of the Sea Holiday Bazaar will be on Saturday and Sunday.

    It will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the church, 1335 Blaine St. in Port Townsend.

    Hand-crafted items from around the world, gourmet food items from monasteries worldwide and religious gift items will be on sale.

    Also sponsoring the bazaar is St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church in Port Townsend.

    Choral music will be performed, and photos with Santa Claus will be offered.

    For more information, phone 360-385-3700.

    Tea party

    PORT TOWNSEND – A holiday afternoon tea party will benefit the Jefferson County Historical Society on Saturday.

    The tea will be at 3 p.m. at the Bartlett House.

    The cost is $20 per person, and reservation is by payment.

    For more information, phone 360-385-1003.

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