Lights, music and Santa offered on final weekend before Christmas

Santa will appear across the North Olympic Peninsula on the last weekend before Christmas Day.

Lights, music, celebrations and holiday shopping are to be had as well.

Here is some of what’s available.

Christmas lights

PORT ANGELES — Holiday decorations are lighting up the nights in Port Angeles, and All Points Charters and Tours is offering a way to see them in comfort.

The business’s annual Christmas Lights Tours of Port Angeles leave the Safeway parking lot, 110 E. Third St., at 7 p.m. each night until Jan. 1, with two exceptions.

On Christmas Eve, two tours will be offered at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tours are sold out for Saturday and on Dec. 31.

Tours are two hours long. Travelers are offered hot spiced cider, hot chocolate and cookies.

The price is $7.50 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 15, and free for ages 6 and under.

Reservations are recommended, and may be made by phoning 360-565-1139 or 360-460-7131.

GOP for tots

PORT ANGELES — The final collection for the Clallam County Republican Party’s food and Toys for Tots drive is set for 7 to 9 tonight.

Food and toys will be collected at the party headquarters, 509 S. Lincoln St., Port Angeles.

Two uniformed Marines will collect toys, and hot apple cider and Christmas cookies will be served

For more information, phone Lyn Lawson-Wheeler at 360-452-7170.

Juletrefest slated

CHIMACUM — Thea Foss Daughters of Norway will celebrate the annual potluck luncheon and Juletrefest at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The celebration will be at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road.

Musicians Sally Chapin, Diane Forsmark, Alison Hedlund and George Yount will lead the Juletrefest dance around the Christmas tree with simple songs and dance steps.

Members who joined the group in 2009 will be initiated.

The event is open to the public.

For more information, phone 360-379-1802.

Jingle Bell Rock

PORT ANGELES — Niobe Weaver and Gil Yslas will perform a singalong Christmas concert, “Jingle Bell Rock,” at noon Sunday.

The concert will take place at Unity in the Olympics, 2917 E. Myrtle St.

Admission is $10 and a canned food donation.

Santa to visit

GARDINER — The Espresso Garden, 275953 U.S. Highway 101, will host Santa Claus from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The espresso shop is located near Wild Birds Unlimited.

For more information, phone 360-797-7800.

Shopping at final market

SEQUIM — Christmas gifts, food and drink for holiday parties or dinners and decorations will be available at the year’s last Sequim Open Aire Market on Saturday.

The market will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Market Square next to Sequim City Hall.

Market patrons can speak with new Sequim Open Aire Market Director Lisa Bridge, who took over the position this week.

For more information, phone 360-460-2668.

Cantata slated

PORT ANGELES — The Chancel Choir of the First Presbyterian Church of Port Angeles will hold two performances of “The Mystery and the Majesty,” by Joseph M. Martin, this weekend.

The choir will present the cantata at the Clallam Bay Presbyterian Church, 15 Eighth St., at 3 p.m. Saturday.

They will perform again in the church sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church of Port Angeles, 139 W. Eighth St., at 2 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, phone Pastor Ted Mattie at 360-452-4781.

Choir concert

SEQUIM — A free concert is scheduled at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Saturday.

“The Festival of Lessons and Carols” will be performed at 7 p.m. at the church at 525 N. Fifth Ave., Sequim.

The St. Luke’s choir, under the direction of Lorraine Martin and supported by the Port Angeles Symphony, will perform a variety of music, from African-American gospel to classical.

Attendees are urged to come early to get a seat.

A reception will follow the concert.

Three Wisemen

SEQUIM — The Three Wisemen will sing Christian music at a Christmas concert tonight.

The traveling trio — composed of Timothy James Meaney, Brett Williams and Jon Blackstone — will perform at 7 p.m. at the church at 91 S. Boyce Road, Sequim.

A donation of $10 is suggested.

Holiday bazaar

PORT TOWNSEND — Local crafters will converge on Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 4907 Landes St., for a holiday bazaar from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Many vendors from the North Olympic Peninsula and the Puget Sound area will have new, handmade and pre-used items for sale.

The event is free.

For more information, phone 360-765-0980.

Christmas party

FORKS — Santa will be on hand for photographs at the Forks Elks Club Kids Christmas Party on Saturday.

The party will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the lodge on Merchant Road.

Last minute gifts

PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Masonic Hall, 1338 Jefferson St., will host a “Holiday Sale for Procrastinators” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Fiber arts, jewelry, handmade books, pottery and more will be available from 14 local artists.

Gingerbread house

PORT TOWNSEND — Children ages 6 to 12 are invited to decorate a mini-gingerbread house at the Port Townsend Library from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today.

The event is first-come, first-served, as space is limited.

Holiday concert

PORT TOWNSEND — Exact Change, a women’s vocal ensemble directed by Leslie Lewis, will present a holiday concert at Grace Lutheran Church, 1140 Walker St., at 7 tonight.

A donation of $10 is suggested.

For more information, phone 360-379-0223.

Shop stays open

SEQUIM — The Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild’s Thrift Shop, 204 W. Bell St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

All donated Christmas items in the store will be marked at half price.

Proceeds from the shop benefit equipment for Fire District 3, Olympic Medical Center, Dungeness Valley Health and Wellness Clinic and scholarship assistance for students entering the medical field.

Santa by the pond

SEQUIM — Santa Claus will be at Vision Landscape Nursery, 131 Kitchen-Dick Road, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

He will be available to pose for free photos with children.

Parents also can bring special gifts ahead of time for Santa to hand-deliver to children.

Hot cocoa, candy canes and a warming fire will be available.

For more information, phone the nursery at 360-683-2855 or e-mail claire@visionlandscapenursery.com.

Santa to visit

GARDINER — The Espresso Garden, 275953 U.S. Highway 101, will host Santa Claus from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The espresso shop is by Wild Birds Unlimited.

For more information, phone 360-797-7800.

Community party

BRINNON — The Brinnon Community Christmas Party will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The center is located at 306144 U.S. Highway 101.

For more information, phone 360-796-4350.

Bazaar, tree raffle

CLALLAM BAY — The Three Sisters of Clallam Art will raffle a decorated tree to benefit United Way of Clallam County during a holiday bazaar this weekend.

The bazaar, which began Thursday, will open at 11 a.m. both today and Saturday at the gallery at 16590 state Highway 112.

The public is invited to a potluck and Christmas carol singalong party at 5 tonight. Accordion player Larry King will accompany the singers.

The tree will be raffled at 5 p.m. Saturday. Raffle tickets are available at the gallery for $1 each.

Loose Gravel, a bluegrass band, will perform from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

The gallery is owned by Diana Goplen, Sarah Grafstrom and Sue Heiny.

For more information, phone 360-963-2854.

Santa at First Federal

FORKS — Santa will be at the Forks branch of First Federal, 131 Calawah Way, from 11 a.m. to 5p.m. Monday.

A minimum donation is required for each photograph with Santa.

Proceeds will go to Forks Abuse’s holiday children program.

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