Community trees will blaze after Santa Claus arrives Saturday in Port Angeles and Sequim.
Wintry visits by the bearded one will be in Joyce, Port Townsend, Forks and Clallam Bay next week.
Santa will make his appearance in Sequim at 2 p.m. at Centennial Place.
Giving his reindeer a rest, he will arrive by horse-drawn wagon, said Jodi Minker, an assistant at the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Free photos, face painting and coloring activities for children will be part of the celebration, Minker said.
Live music is planned from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with the Sequim City Band performing at 1 p.m., the Sequim High School Jazz Band at 2:30 p.m., the Sweet Adelines at 3 p.m. and Sunshine Generation just before the 5 p.m. tree lighting.
The Irrigation Festival Royalty will be collecting toys for local children during the day.
Port Angeles
Port Angeles will open the season at 3 p.m. Saturday with the Great Snowball Drop.
At 3 p.m., hundreds of “snowballs” will be dropped into the parking lot east of Zaks at 125 W. Front St.
Each snowball will be marked with the name of a store, where snowball holders can redeem them for discounts or prizes.
Festivities will continue at 4 p.m. at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain at First and Laurel streets.
Live music will include performances by the Peninsula College Jazz Ensemble, Evergreen Fiddle Kids and Hamilton Winter Choir.
Hot cocoa, cookies and goodie bags will be available.
Santa Claus will arrive at 5 p.m. just before the lighting of the community tree.
Charlie Ferris and Grand Master Bob Nicholls will serve as masters of ceremonies.
After the tree is lit, Santa will remain at the fountain to visit with the children in the Santa tent.
Parents are invited to take photos of their children with Santa.
Next week
A tree lighting celebration will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, in Joyce.
The Joyce tree lighting will be held just off state Highway 112 between the Blackberry Cafe and Joyce Bible Church.
Santa will lead participants into the Bible Church gym for free bowls of soup and slices of pie and musical entertainment.
The Joyce Grinch will be announced and receive a custom-made crown.
Port Townsend, Forks and Clallam Bay celebrations will be held Saturday, Dec. 6.
The Port Townsend celebration will include a 4:30 p.m. tree lighting and a visit from Santa at Haller Fountain.
Santa will arrive on board the Kiwanis Choo Choo Train to light the community tree.
After the tree lighting, Santa will visit with children to hear their Christmas wishes.
In Forks, the tree lighting will be held at 6:45 p.m., just after the Twinkle Light Parade and before Moonlight Madness.
In Clallam Bay, the community Christmas tree will be lit at 4 p.m. at Clallam Bay Spit Community Beach County Park.
Santa will visit and take photos with kids. Cookies, hot chocolate and coffee will be served.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
