PORT TOWNSEND — Santa will arrive by firetruck Saturday for a tree-lighting ceremony at Haller Fountain.
Riding in a vintage truck to the ceremony, he is expected to arrive at 4:30 p.m. at the fountain at Washington and Taylor streets.
The city’s Christmas tree this year is of a species never used before: a 20-foot redwood.
Its donor, Marga Smith, had planted the tree in her front yard when it was only a few feet high, and it grew to take over her yard, she told Main Street Executive Director Mari Mullen.
City parks workers and volunteers put up the tree at Haller Fountain on Monday, and volunteers decorated it Tuesday.
On Saturday, before Santa arrives, Wild Rose Chorale will sing Christmas carols in the streets from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Santa will be available to hear children’s wishes for Christmas starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Jefferson County Museum of Art & History at 540 Water St.
Many shops plan late hours Saturday, with some staying open until
7 p.m., according to Port Townsend Main Street.
“Port Townsend is a great place to shop,” Mullen said.
“We are a destination point for unique gifts.”
Shoppers will have their last chance to enter the Hometown Holiday Sweepstakes at 32 businesses.
The sweepstakes, which is sponsored by First Federal, will close at noon. Sweepstakes winners — who must be present to win — will be announced at 5 p.m.
The prizes are two $500 shopping sprees in local gift certificates.
Participating in the sweepstakes are About Time, Abracadabra, April Fool & Penny Too, Artisans on Taylor, Bickie’s Cotton Casuals, The Clothes Horse, Conservatory Coastal Home, Daily Bird Pottery, Elevated Ice Cream & Candy Co., Earthenworks Gallery, Expressions, Face of Grace and Frameworks.
Also, Gallery 9, Getables, The Green Eyeshade, Joglo NW, Imprint Bookstore, Maestrale, Mad Hatter, Maricee Fashions, Olympic Art & Office, Port Townsend Gallery, PT Shirt Co., Quimper Mercantile, Sideshow Variety, Simon Mace Gallery, Summer House Design, Tickled Pink, Wandering Angus, What’s Cookin’ and The Writers’ Workshoppe.
Mullen said that many tourists come to Port Townsend to shop, but she also encouraged locals to shop downtown.
“I’m always reading in the paper about how our city budget needs help,” she said.
“If everyone who lives here shopped downtown, that would fix a lot of our problems because of the increased sales tax revenue.”
The Port Townsend Holidays promotion is sponsored by the city Main Street Program, the city of Port Townsend Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, First Federal and participating merchants.
For more information, visit www.ptmainstreet.org.
