PORT TOWNSEND — Santa Claus will kick off the holiday season Saturday during the annual tree-lighting celebration in downtown Port Townsend.
The evening marks the beginning of a month-long slate of events that includes rides on the Kiwanis Choo-Choo and Fill the Bus to benefit Toys for Tots, plus a pair of shows at Key City Public Theatre.
Tree lighting
Before Santa rides in on the Choo-Choo, the Wild Rose Chorale will sing carols at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Haller Fountain near the intersection of Washington and Taylor streets. That will be followed by Key City Theatre Antics.
Santa will arrive at 4:30 p.m. to light the community tree, and Denise Winter, the executive artistic director of Key City Public Theatre, will emcee the event.
The event lighting design is by Fyerlite Lighting & Grip.
Once the ceremony concludes, Santa will visit with children at the new “Reindeer Region at the Legion” at the American Legion hall at Water and Monroe streets. Visitors are encouraged to use the Water Street entrance.
Members of local nonprofits are joining in the festivities to offer refreshments for sale. Port Townsend Main Street Program “elves” will help with crafts and reindeer ornament-making for children.
There will also be an opportunity to make holiday cards to send to troops overseas.
No parking will be available on Taylor Street, which will be closed between Washington and Water streets from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Washington street will be closed between Adams and Fillmore streets from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Ornament-making, crafts and refreshments from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. will be sponsored by the American Legion, Kitsap Bank, Port Townsend Kiwanis and KPTZ 91.9 FM.
Fill the Bus
The Kiwanis Club’s annual Christmas for Children campaign helped 550 kids last year, program spokesperson Don Olsen said.
The club also donated bicycles to each school in East Jefferson County to use as a reading incentive, he said.
Kiwanis will host Fill the Bus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at triangle park in front of the visitor information center, 2409 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.
Unwrapped toys and cash donations will be accepted.
On Dec. 14 and Dec. 21, Kiwanis and Main Street will offer rides on the Choo-Choo to benefit the arts in school programs. The rides will begin near Pope Marine Park across the street from the American Legion hall at the corner of Monroe and Water streets.
A $5 donation is suggested.
Festival of Lights
The 10th Festival of Lights Crafts Faire, Silent Auction and Cookie Extravaganza is set for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Saturday, and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The festival will be at Unity Spiritual Enrichment Center, 3918 San Juan Ave.
Featured items include cashmere dryer balls, waxed fabric food wraps and washable storage bags, zippered travel bags, bead and driftwood mobiles, ceramic coasters, Christmas stockings, meditation pillows, origami lights, wool mittens, a Christmas store collection of toys, games and Victorian ornaments.
An array of cookies will be available for purchase as well as soups and hot beverages.
Psychic readers will be available throughout the weekend, They will provide readings for $40 per half hour.
For more information, call 360-385-6519 or visit www.unitypt.org.
Public theater
The Port Townsend Kiwanis Club will present “Sesamean Streets,” written and directed by Ramon Dailey and featuring the PT Mystery Players, at the Oscar Erickson Building at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 4907 Landes St., Port Townsend.
The annual dinner and a murder shows will be tonight and Saturday, with doors opening at 5 p.m. both nights. The shows start at 6 p.m. and dinner follows at 7 p.m.
The shows will be catered by God Bless Food (GBF).
Tickets are $55 and can be purchased online at www.ptmystery.com, or by calling Mary Crozier at 360-531-0200.
Key City Public Theatre at 419 Washington St. will host two shows through Dec. 29.
The world premiere of “Mercy Falls” written by Jeni Mahone is set for each Friday, Saturday and Sunday in December.
The playhouse also will put on “Spirit of the Yule” from Dec. 12-28.
Tickets for both shows can be found at www.keycitypublictheatre.org.
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.
