The Christmas season will begin soon after the dishes are done from the Thanksgiving feast.
On Saturday, Santa Claus is scheduled to arrive in Sequim, Port Angeles and Port Townsend.
Businesses in Port Angeles and Port Townsend will offer specials.
Here are descriptions of the festivities:
Tree-lighting set
PORT ANGELES — The annual lighting of the Port Angeles community Christmas tree will be held at and around the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain at First and Laurel streets beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Musical entertainment will be provided by Amanda Bacon, Howly Slim and the Black Diamond Fiddlekids.
A reading of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” is planned.
Santa Claus, accompanied by his “rolling reindeer,” will arrive to light the tree’s 10,000 colored lights just before 5 p.m.
Santa will be available to hear the wishes of all the children who want to see him.
Attendees should bring a camera for pictures.
Hot cocoa and cookies will be available.
Those attending are asked to bring a new unwrapped toy for Toys For Tots and/or a donation of a nonperishable food item for the Rainbow Girls Food Drive.
Saturday is also Small Business Saturday, with many businesses offering shopping specials from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, visit www.portangelesdowntown.com.
Santa in Sequim
SEQUIM — Santa Claus will kick off the holiday season in Sequim with an appearance at the community Christmas tree, corner of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street, on Saturday.
The Sequim City Band will perform at 11 a.m., and Santa and his Royalty Elves are expected at noon.
Parents can have their children’s picture taken with Santa for free, courtesy of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Hot apple cider and cookies will be served.
Toys and food bank donations will be accepted at the event.
Shop local event
PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend will host its second annual Small Business Saturday as part of a Holidays Merchant Open House.
There will be caroling on the streets with the Wild Rose Chorale, merchant specials and the chance to enter the Hometown Holiday Sweepstakes to win one of two $500 shopping sprees at local businesses.
The winners will be picked after the holiday tree-lighting ceremony and Santa’s arrival at Haller Fountain the following weekend at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.
Last year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation selected Port Townsend as one of three Main Street communities to help launch the inaugural Small Business Saturday.
“We are very excited to highlight Small Business Saturday at our Holidays Merchant Open House event on Saturday,” said Mari Mullen, executive director for the Port Townsend Main Street Program.
“For every $100 spent at a local small business, $68 returns to the community.
“This holiday promotion highlights Port Townsend and celebrates our small-business community, which adds to the special character of our town.”
The Port Townsend Holidays promotion is sponsored by the Port Townsend Main Street Program, the city of Port Townsend Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, First Federal and participating merchants.
Small Business Saturday is sponsored by American Express.
For more information on Small Business Saturday, visit www.smallbusinesssaturday.com.
