Lighted Christmas cards, painted by local artists, have been set up for viewing around Sweet Home.
Card display locations are:
– The Point Restaurant and Shea Point rest area at Foster Lake;
– Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, 1575 Main St.
– East Linn Museum and State Farm Beth Lambert Agency at the west end of Long Street;
– Fir Lawn Lutheran Church at the corner of 1st Avenue and Old Holley Road;
– Canyon Creek neighborhood at the south end of 10th Avenue;
– 27th through 29th avenues and Foothills area;
– Meridian Loop behind Little Promises on Pleasant Valley Road;
– Oak Heights Elementary, 805 Elm St.;
– Sweet Home Boys and Girls Club, 890 18th Ave.;
– Fire Station, 1099 Long St.
– Police Station, 1950 Main St.
Following are other Christmas holiday events planned for this weekend and beyond:
Dec. 11-12
– Crawfordsville Live Nativity: 6:30 to 8 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, outside Crawfordsville Community Church, 38363 3rd St. in Crawfordsville. In addition to the live actors and animals – including a genuine camel, the church will also hold an open house featuring live music by Silverton guitarist Ron Diller, lights and plenty of goodies. For more information, contact Pastor Kelly at (541) 405-5151.
– East Linn Museum Live Nativity: 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Gifts of canned food for SHEM will be collected, and the museum will serve hot cocoa, cider and cookies. Participants can also enjoy a free carriage ride, with caroling. To volunteer or participate, contact the chamber at (541) 367-6186.
– More Christmas at East Linn Museum: The museum will offer free tours of its decorated parlor and photo opportunities at 746 Long St. from 1 to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 5 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 12. Participants are asked to bring their own cameras for the photos.
– Rocking Around the Christmas Tree: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The downtown shopping extravaganza will include 23 participating Sweet Home and Foster area businesses, which will each display a Participating Passport Business sign in their window. Shoppers will have their “passport” stamped at each participating location as they shop and then a chance to win money for their completed “passport” at the Cedar Shack, 4102 Highway 20, on Saturday evening. Each passport must be completely stamped to qualify to win prize money and they are limited to one per person.
Businesses will also have tickets to give out to customers at the business owner’s discretion, which will be used for drawings during the evening.
Cedar Shack events will begin at 6 p.m. In addition to cash and prize giveaways, which will total $400, a hat contest and other games will be held, and there will be refreshments and musical entertainment. Cash prizes will be divided three ways. All ages may participate, though there will be a limit of $50 in cash winnings for those under 18.
For more information, contact Nancy Patton at (541) 409-4276 or Kele Johnson at (541) 801-7117.
– Kids Store at American Legion: The Home Sweet Home for Christmas Committee will host a Kids Store on Saturday, which will provide the opportunity for any child to shop for free for parents and siblings.
The committee is collecting new, unwrapped items for children through adults, valued at $10 or less. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 10 at Trash to Treasure, 1023 Main St. or in a drop box at Santiam Variety Store in the Safeway Plaza. The committee also needs wrapping paper, tape and Christmas bags.
The event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the American Legion Hall on Long Street. Participating children will receive tickets to redeem the amount of gifts they need when they arrive. Adults will escort children as they shop. After volunteers wrap and label gifts, children can take them home and put them under their Christmas trees.
The Kids Store will be held in conjunction with the Rocking Around the Christmas Tree event.
For more information, text or call Nancy Patton at (541) 409-4276 or Kele Johnson at 1-310-944-1704.
– Shop with a Cop at Bi-Mart: 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Local underprivileged children will get a chance to shop for their families, hosted by local police officers who raised funds through their annual Steak Out at The Point restaurant on Nov. 13 and from donations to the Thanksgiving dinner at The Point.
– Book Signings: Local authors will sign their books from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Chamber of Commerce, 1575 Main St., where their works are on sale in the chamber shop. For more details, contact the chamber at (541) 367-6186.
December 17
Senior Center Potluck and Bus Tour of Lights: Potluck dinner starts at 5 p.m. Bus tour, which will visit light and Christmas card displays, starts at 6:30 p.m. and costs $1 per person. Tour participants will also judge the light displays for The New Era’s annual Christmas light display contest.
December 19
– East Linn Museum Live Nativity: 5 to 7 p.m. Gifts of canned food for SHEM will be collected, and the museum will serve hot cocoa, cider and cookies. Participants can also enjoy a free carriage ride, with caroling. To volunteer or participate, contact the chamber at (541) 367-6186. The museum will offer free tours of its decorated parlor and photo opportunities at 746 Long St. from 1 to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 5 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 19. Participants are asked to bring their own cameras for the photos.
– Little Promises Christmas Party: Little Promises will host a free celebration for local children from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at the school gym, 28028 Pleasant Valley Road.
The event is a collaborative effort by Little Promises, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and Child Evangelism Fellowship. It is part of a nationwide effort to reach children across America with the true meaning of Christmas. The focal point will be “the best gift ever given…the birth of Jesus,” according to organizers.
All children ages 4 through sixth grade are welcome to attend free of charge. Parents are encouraged to come early to register their children. Donations are welcome.
For more information, contact Pete Taraski at (936) 522-6033.
– STAR Toy Drive: Members of the STAR Touring and Riding Club will deliver gifts collected at Bi-Mart (there’s a donation box there, near the store’s exit door) to the Elks Lodge. 1 p.m. Look for a motorcycle motorcade down Main Street as the club makes the deliveries.
– Book Signings: Local authors will sign their books from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce, 1575 Main St., where their works are on sale in the chamber shop. For more details, contact the chamber at (541) 367-6186.