PORT ANGELES — The lighting of this year’s Port Angeles Christmas Tree begins with music, holiday treats and ceremonies at downtown’s Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain, First and Laurel streets, at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The tree’s 10,000 colored lights will be switched on at 5 p.m.
Sequim lighting today
The Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Community Christmas Tree lighting at the corner of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street at 5 p.m. today.
There will be festive music and caroling.
Donations of nonperishable food items will be accepted at the ceremonies for the Sequim Food Bank.
A $100 gift card goes to the person with the closest guess on the number of lights on the Christmas tree.
On Saturday, the Sequim City Band plays by the Christmas tree at 11 a.m. Santa Claus arrives there via horse and wagon at noon.
Santa will pose for pictures with children until 2 p.m. while members of the Sequim Irrigation Festival Royalty accept toys for needy boys and girls.
Port Angeles and Sequim merchants will also celebrate Small Business Saturday with holiday sales and refreshments.
In Sequim, shoppers can enter a drawing for three holiday gift baskets each worth more than $500.
Receive a stamp card and visit five merchants to enter.
The drawing runs through Dec. 16. No purchase is necessary.
Santa in sprint boat
At Saturday’s Port Angeles ceremonies, Santa Claus will arrive via a Twisted Motor Sports sprint boat and light the Christmas tree at 5 p.m., then stay to hear the wishes of all the children who want to see him.
Attendees should bring a camera for pictures.
Hot cocoa and cookies will be served by members of Rainbow Girls and DeMolay.
Musical entertainment will be provided by Amanda Bacon, James Gregory and the cast of the Port Angeles Community Players’ “A Christmas Story.”
“A Christmas Story,” a comedy by Jean Shepherd, opens at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the community theater, 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
Preceding the tree-lighting will be 23 Port Angeles downtown businesses marking national Small Business Saturday with holiday sales, drawings and tasty refreshments.
Details of store participation are listed at the downtown association’s website at http://tinyurl.com/pasmallbiz.
Port Townsend sales, tree lighting
Port Townsend merchants will also celebrate Small Business Saturday with sales. (See related story today, “Caroling, sales in Port Townsend for Saturday spending”)
Port Townsend will hold its community Christmas Tree lighting at downtown’s Haller Fountain at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1.
At Small Business Saturday in Port Angeles, Cottage Queen will offer 10 percent off storewide, as well as additional savings on selected items while the neighboring Sassy Kat Salon & Boutique will offer 10 percent off.
The two stores will conduct a joint $100 gift certificate drawing.
Black Diamond Bridal will offer 20 percent off all party dresses, jewelry and accessories, as well as 15 percent off bridal gowns and 50 percent off clearance dresses and all shoes
Unique Treasures Mall will offer 20 percent off selected merchandise.
Anime Kat will give half off rental packages. Rissa’s Barely Consignment will offer 20 percent storewide Saturday only.
Cabled Fiber Studio will have specials and refreshments. Inspired! plans to provide free gifts with each $24 purchases.
Bay Variety will offer 20 percent off in its toy department, excluding sales merchandise and refreshments.
Golden Crafts Shop will offer refreshments.
Also participating will be Aglazing Art, Brown’s Outdoor, Captain T’s, Elliot’s Antique Emporium, Fiddleheads, Northwest Fudge & Confections, Odyssey Bookshop, Olympic Stationers, Pacific Rim Hobby, Port Book and News, Smugglers Landing, Twisted Mischief and What’s In Store.
