Santa will arrive on both sides of the North Olympic Peninsula this weekend, with tree-lighting ceremonies and other activities planned in Port Townsend and Forks.
Also, Sequim will celebrate its second tree lighting of the season during the First Friday Art Walk.
Port Townsend
Port Townsend festivities will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at Tyler Plaza under the heated tent. Visitors can carol with Wild Rose Chorale and make ornaments to take home until 4 p.m. or supplies run out. Donations will benefit PT Artscape, which supports the arts in the schools program in Port Townsend.
Holiday cutouts at Tyler Plaza will be available for selfies.
Santa will visit with children in Port Townsend from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Tyler and Water streets. He will pose with children and the Kiwanis Choo Choo before boarding the Choo Choo to ride to Haller Fountain at Washington and Tyler streets to light the community tree at dusk.
Holiday lighting sparkles throughout town for Enchanted Holidays in Port Townsend.
Forks
Festivities in Forks begin Saturday with the Twinkle Light Holiday Parade.
The parade will begin at C Street at 6:30 p.m. and continue to Sol Duc Way, where the community tree will be lighted at the Triangle lot.
Santa will do the honors at the ceremony that will follow immediately after the parade.
The tree, sponsored by the West End Business & Professional Association, was acquired thanks to Ken and Darlene Olson. City crew members assist with placing the tree, and the lights and decorations on the tree.
Christmas decorations have gone up in town, sponsored by the West End Business & Professional Association — which purchases and maintains the lights — and placed by city crew members.
On Saturday also begins the Soroptimist International of the Olympic Rain Forest’s 28th annual Festival of Trees, presented with the theme of Candyland this year. An open house will take place at the Rainforest Arts Center, 35 N. Forks Ave., from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and again form 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. after the parade.
Visitors will be able to look over the 15 decorated trees and 22 wreaths while voting for their favorites and enjoying baked goods and live entertainment. They also can bid on silent auction wreaths.
The live auction will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday. Doors will open at 1 p.m.
Tickets will be available for a specially decorated tree by the Olympic Correction Center, which comes with two cords of wood and other surprises, and several themed baskets. Refreshments will be by donation.
The Festival of Trees is the main fundraiser for Soroptimist International of the Olympic Rain Forest. Proceed support the group’s scholarships, awards, junior high student of the month, mammogram fund, SOS cancer transportation fund, comfort kits and backpack program among others.
For more information about the group, contact cindymesenbrink@gmail.com or check out the group’s Facebook page.
Sequim
The Sequim Arts Commission will offer the ninth annual student holiday display and tree lighting during the First Friday Art Walk.
The tree lighting will be from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at the Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St.
The tree lighting will be by Mayor Tom Ferrell.
All fourth-grade students in the Sequim School District have been invited to create a holiday ornament inspired by the theme, “What Brings You Joy.”
Light refreshments and joyous cheer will be offered.
The City Arts Advisory Commission hosts the “Elemental; Fire, Water, Wood, Earth, Metal, Air” on view in the Karen Kuznek-Reese Gallery.
