Sweet Home will kick off the Christmas holidays this weekend with a variety of events ranging from the annual Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade to the Sweet Home Alumni Foundation’s Third Annual Decorated Live Tree Auction.
Other events are also planned, including bazaars by various community organizations. There will also be a downtown tree lighting ceremony and the popular Singing Christmas Tree.
The parade is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, and will travel down Long Street from 18th Avenue to 10th Avenue.
The tree lighting ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at the East Linn Museum. Participants can enjoy free hot chocolate and coffee provided by Fir Lawn Lutheran Church.
The Singing Christmas Tree will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Sweet Home High School Auditorium. Admission is free, though donations will be accepted.
East Linn Museum will hold a bazaar from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1 and 2, at the high school Activities Gymnasium.
The Sweet Home Friends of the Library will hold their bazaar at the library from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.
The Sweet Home Genealogical Society will hold its bazaar from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Genealogy Library, 1223 Kalmia St.
The Evangelical Church and the Sweet Home Boys and Girls Club are both selling Christmas trees at their respective locations.
The tree auction will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday in the Sweet Home High School cafeteria.
Organizer Dave Holley said foundation members want people to understand what the organization’s main goal is: funding scholarships for any Sweet Home High School student who applies.
The auction is the foundation’s main fund-raising event, he said, but there are only 15 trees. Not everyone can spend $500 on a tree, but attending the auction on a $15 ticket “gives us support, and it’s a worthy thing.”
A silent auction, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. will feature wreaths and centerpieces, baked goods, hand-crafted items and theme baskets.
The live portion of the auction will start at 6:30 p.m. where the decorated trees will go the highest bidder.
Cost to attend is $15, which includes hors d’oeuvres and punch.
For those not able to attend the auction, the trees will be on display from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To make reservations to attend the auction call committee members today, Nov. 29. They include Coreen Melcher, 367-6235; Mary Sue Reynolds, 367-6901 (days); Karla Burcham, 367-4384 (evenings); and Lauri Carlson, 367-6751.
All proceeds from the tree auction go to support college scholarships for Sweet Home High School graduating seniors.