This weekend kicks off the Christmas holiday season in Sweet Home with a full program of activities, starting Friday, Dec. 4.
A new twist this year will be the lighted Christmas Parade on Friday night.
Preparation is going well, said Katrina Crabtree, chamber executive director.
“We’re working on the Santa Claus float. I know there’s a couple of special sweet treats.”
She can’t say what they’ll be, she said. “They’re surprises.”
As of Monday afternoon, the parade had eight entries, Crabtree said. She expected more. Participants can register through Thursday.
She said she could work with entries later if necessary.
In addition to the parade, a plethora of activities and events will be held this weekend, with more coming on the two following weekends. Following is a round-up of what’s scheduled.
Friday, Dec. 4
– Tree Lighting: 4:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce, 1575 Main St.
– Christmas Parade: 5:30 p.m. Floats will be decorated according to a Roaring ’20s theme, with vintage lights. Entry applications for participants are available at the Chamber of Commerce. For information or to volunteer, contact the chamber at (541) 367-6186. Deadline for entries is 4 p.m. on Dec. 3.
– Singing Christmas Tree: 7:30 p.m. at the Sweet Home High School Auditorium, 1641 Long St. The 25-foot tree will feature a choral and light show under the direction of Paul Rowton, performing inspirational and fun holiday classics. This year’s theme is “Christmas at Home in the Country.” Santa Claus will make an appearance at the intermission. The event is free, but donations are accepted and appreciated.
– Christmas Cards: The 100-plus Christmas cards go on display and will be lit Friday, starting about 4:30 p.m. Most of the cards are displayed in specific neighborhoods: Canyon Creek at the south end of 10th Avenue, Strawberry Loop and Foothills Drive at the south end of 29th Avenue.
A map showing locations will be available at The Chamber of Commerce, 1575 Main St., and The New Era, 1313 Main St. during regular business hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bazaars
– Friends of the Library Bookstore, on the corner of 12th Avenue and Long Street, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
– Sweet Home Genealogical Society, 1223 Kalmia St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
– Sweet Home Evangelical Women, 1347 Long St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
– Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce, 1575 Main St., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5
Bazaars
– Friends of the Library Bookstore, on the corner of 12th Avenue and Long Street, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
– Sweet Home Genealogical Society, 1223 Kalmia St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
– Sweet Home Evangelical Women, 1347 Long St., from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
– AmVets, 580 Main St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
– Elite Fitness, 933 Main St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
– Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce, 1575 Main St., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
– Swag and Wreath-Making Class: 10 a.m. at the Sweet Home Ranger District, 4431 Highway 20. Learn to assemble holiday swags and wreaths from locally collected forest products such as boughs, cones, and berries. A limited number of wreath rings will be available so participants are encouraged to bring their own, if possible, along with clippers and wire. For information, contact Alice Smith at [email protected].
– Christmas Tree Auction: Sweet Home Alumni Foundation is hosting its 12th Annual Decorated Tree Auction from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Sweet Home High School cafeteria, 1641 Long St.
Live, decorated trees, sponsored and designed by local businesses and individuals, will be available for bid.
A silent auction, from 6 to 7 p.m., will feature holiday gifts, baked goods, hand-crafted items and theme baskets. The live portion of the auction will start at 7:30 p.m., with trees sold to the highest bidders.
Cost to attend is $15 per person, which includes plentiful holiday hors d’oeuvres, desserts and a festive punch. Just pay at the door.
All proceeds from the tree auction go to support college scholarships for Sweet Home High School graduating seniors. For more information or to donate to the silent auction, contact Lauri at (541) 401-3148.
The decorated trees will be on display Saturday until 2 p.m.
– Singing Christmas Tree: 7:30 p.m. at the Sweet Home High School Auditorium. Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted.
Sunday, Dec. 6
– Singing Christmas Tree: 3 p.m. at the Sweet Home High School Auditorium. Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted.
– AmVets Bazaar: 580 Main St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Weekend of 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, Dec. 12. 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 Musuem: 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.
– Shop with a Cop at Bi-Mart: 9 a.m. to noon. 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.
– Rocking Around the Christmas Tree: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The downtown shopping extravaganza will include 23 participating 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 for prize money.
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, Dec. 12, 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. Donations are needed by Dec. 4 and can be dropped off 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 on Dec. 12.
For more information, text or call Nancy Patton at (541) 409-4276 or Kele Johnson at 1-310-944-1704.
– 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 is to reach kids 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.