PORT ANGELES — Santa will be on hand for Christmas tree-lighting ceremonies and surrounding festivals in Port Angeles and Sequim on Saturday.
The Port Angeles Downtown Association will host the Hometown Holiday Celebration from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the foot of the Laurel Street stairs.
The Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce will host the Hometown Holidays festival from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Centennial Place in downtown Sequim.
Tree lighting ceremonies will take place in both cities at about 4:45 p.m.
“It should be a really fun time,” said Ginny Holladay, administrative coordinator of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The Christmas tree at the Conrad Dyar Fountain in downtown Port Angeles is scheduled to be lit Saturday evening. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
The Port Angeles celebration will feature dancers from Studio 360 and singing by the Peninsula College jazz ensemble, guest soloists and the Hamilton Elementary School Winter Choir.
Santa will arrive at Conrad Dyer Memorial Fountain at about 4:45 p.m. to direct the lighting of the Port Angeles Christmas tree and drop the first dollar into the Salvation Army bucket to kick off the annual bell-ringing fundraiser.
“The true finale will be Santa arriving,” said April Bellerud, Port Angeles Downtown Association president and Odyssey Bookshop owner.
“He’ll be able to talk to all the children.”
Hot chocolate will be provided by Brown’s Outdoor and holiday cookies will be provided by the downtown association. Odyssey Bookshop will provide Santa goodie bags for up to 250 children.
“There will be time to mingle with Santa, take photos and enjoy some festive refreshments,” according to an announcement.
Centennial Place
In Sequim, Santa will be at Centennial Place at the corner of Washington Street and Sequim Avenue along with Sequim Irrigation Festival royalty.
Holiday music will be performed throughout the afternoon.
After the Sequim Christmas tree lighting, more than 20 tractors will make their way down Washington Street in the annual holiday tractor procession.
The procession will leave the QFC parking lot at about 4:45 p.m. and proceed down Washington Street to the Sequim Village parking lot at Seventh Avenue, city officials said.
Drivers should expect delays on westbound Washington Street and side arterials during the one-hour procession.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
