UPDATE — Santa visits Peninsula as community trees brighten Port Angeles, Sequim
Published 12:01 am Saturday, November 29, 2014
COMMUNITY TREE LIGHTINGS and visits from Santa Claus heralded the beginning of the Christmas season in Port Angeles and Sequim on Saturday.
Port Townsend, Joyce, Forks and Clallam Bay will wait until next weekend to celebrate the beginning of the season.
Santa arrived by horse-drawn wagon at Centennial Place in Sequim early Saturday afternoon.
Live music, free photos, face painting and coloring activities for children continued until the tree lighting, set for just after dark.
Port Angeles
Port Angeles began festivities with the Great Snowball Drop at the parking lot east of Zaks at 125 W. Front St.
Each snowball was marked with the name of a store, where snowball holders can redeem them for discounts or prizes.
Festivities continued at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain at First and Laurel streets with live music, hot cocoa, cookies and goodie bags until Santa arrived and the Christmas tree was lit.
Next week
Joyce plans a tree lighting celebration at 6 p.m. Friday just off state Highway 112 between the Blackberry Cafe and Joyce Bible Church.
Santa will lead participants into the Bible Church gym for free bowls of soup and slices of pie and musical entertainment.
The Joyce Grinch will be announced and receive a custom-made crown.
Port Townsend, Forks and Clallam Bay celebrations will be the next day, on Saturday.
The Port Townsend celebration will include a 4:30 p.m. tree lighting and a visit from Santa at the Haller Fountain.
Santa will arrive aboard the Kiwanis Choo Choo Train to light the community tree, then visit with children to hear their Christmas wishes.
In Forks, the tree lighting will be held at 6:45 p.m., just after the Twinkle Light Parade and just before Moonlight Madness.
In Clallam Bay, the community Christmas tree will be lit at 4 p.m. at Clallam Bay Spit Community Beach County Park.
Santa will visit and take photos with children. Cookies, hot chocolate and coffee will be served.
