The holiday season continues to arrive in communities across the North Olympic Peninsula this weekend.
An array of free public events — including a tree lighting, parades, festivals and visits from Santa Claus will be offered in communities from Quilcene to Forks.
A rundown:
* Port Townsend residents will celebrate their “Home Town Spirit,”‘ the holiday season and the city’s heritage during the Victorian Holiday celebration (see accompanying story).
Various Port Townsend businesses, which are specially decorated for the holidays, will offer extended hours and sales promotions.
Until noon Saturday, more than 40 downtown and uptown businesses are participating in the Home Town Holiday Raffle.
Shoppers earn one raffle ticket in the drawing for every $10 purchase.
To win, people must be present at the tree lighting, when the winning ticket is selected at 5 p.m.
The grand prize is $2,000 in Town Dollars, Port Townsend gift certificates that can be used like cash.
* Forks kicks off its holiday festivities tonight with the third annual Twinkle Light Holiday Parade.
Every entry in the parade, which carries Santa Claus into town, is illuminated with some sort of lighting.
The parade, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will proceed down the main street, beginning at the corner of Forks Avenue and C Street and ending at Sol Duc Avenue.
Janet Hughes, parade organizer and sponsor, said this year’s event will feature such participants as Frosty the Snowman, an antique log truck and members of the Red Hat Society.
Entry into the parade is free, and all ages are welcome to participate.
For a parade application, call JT’s Sweet Stuffs, 360-374-6111, between 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The annual Midnight Madness shopping event follows the parade at various stores throughout Forks.
* Also in Forks, Santa and Mama Claus will arrive at 8 a.m. at the Congregational Church, 280 S. Spartan Ave., in Forks on Saturday.
Their visit will be followed by a breakfast at the church’s fellowship hall between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.
A charge of $4 is applied to those wanting breakfast which includes hot cakes, French toast, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy and beverages.
Photos with Santa are available for $3.
* In Forks, the Holiday House, which features homemade arts and crafts and eats and treats will be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Forks Middle School multipurpose room.
* And Forks’ 10th annual Festival of Trees — “A Story Book Christmas” — will be held Saturday and Sunday at Bank of America.
The event, sponsored by Soroptimist International of the Olympic Rainforest, raises money for the organization’s projects through the sale of trees and wreaths.
The public auction of trees and wreaths starts at 2 p.m. Sunday, but people can preview the trees Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
During the viewing and auction, live musical entertainment will be provided.
Bank of America is located at 481 Forks Ave.
* Joyce residents will celebrate the holiday season at the annual Joyce to the World Children’s Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Festivities, which include hayrides, horse and carriage rides, and crafts for children, take place at the Crescent Grange Hall, 507634 Highway 112.
Hot cocoa and cookies will be available, and Santa Claus will visit with area children.
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Tracy Grover at 360-928-3135, or Gretchen Harnack at 360-928-1167.
* Port Angeles’ Vern Burton Center will be transformed into a gift-seekers’ paradise during the two-day Olympic Medical Center Auxiliary’s Christmas Fair Arts & Crafts Show.
The event will feature a variety of arts and crafts vendors Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* Quilcene businesses will feature a Holiday Open House today and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Participating businesses include Quilcene Artists Coop, Highway 101 Variety, Scents and Sensibility, Olympic Rose Florist and Wildwood Antiques and Gifts/Black Cat Books.
The Artists Coop event will continue Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
