PORT TOWNSEND — For the ninth consecutive year, volunteer Michael Rosser conquered his fear of heights to help string lights and ornaments on the community Christmas tree in downtown Port Townsend.
On Tuesday morning, volunteers such as Rosser and staff from the Port Townsend Main Street Program decorated the town Christmas tree in preparation for the weekend tree lighting.
Rosser, along with volunteer Wendy Duede of First Security Bank and Dawn Pierson from the Main Street Program, covered the tree with lights, round ornaments and tin ornaments made last year by Grant Street Elementary School third-grade students.
“Giving Tuesday is today, so these folks are all giving,” said Mari Mullen, Main Street executive director.
Rosser used an automatic lift to reach the top of the tree that now stands next to Haller Fountain at the intersection of Taylor and Washington streets.
Pierson and Duede helped on ladders and from the ground, checking to make sure ornaments were evenly distributed around the more-than-10-foot-tall noble fir.
According to Mullen, the Main Street program relies heavily on volunteers and other city organizations to pull off its packed holiday schedule.
The tree was selected and donated by the city of Port Townsend Parks &Recreation Department.
On Thursday, the tree will be topped with a glowing tree topper donated by Christel Hildebrandt, the owner of the Uptown Pub, according to Mullen.
Volunteers on Tuesday also covered the stairs near Haller Fountain with lights. Main Street program workers will decorate the Cotton Building later this week.
It’s all in preparation for Saturday’s town tree lighting, which is the first of many holiday events scheduled for December.
Saturday’s event will start with the tree lighting at 4:30 p.m. and feature a visit from Santa, who will ride the Kiwanis Choo Choo with Mayor Deborah Stinson. Santa will then be in the Cotton Building for pictures and Christmas wishes.
Also planned is music courtesy of the Wild Rose Chorale and a preview of Key City Public Theatre’s “Spirit of Yule.”
Several stores will stay open until 7 p.m. to provide treats and holiday shopping opportunities.
“If the weather is halfway decent, we’ll see a few hundred people,” Mullen said. “The tree lighting is always so fun since there’s so much happening in town.”
Also on Saturday is the Kiwanis Toys for Tots toy drive at the Port Townsend Visitor Center, 2409 Jefferson St.; the first Saturday Art Walk in downtown; and the Jefferson Healthcare Foundation’s Festival of Wreaths display at 230 Taylor St.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
