Saturday, Dec. 10
— Sweet Home Christian Church Christmas Bazaar, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Check out the goods at 1825 Long St.
— Parade of Lights, 6 p.m. – This year’s parade will be bigger and better than ever, with an extended route and plenty of glitz and glamour. Want to participate? Entries are $10. Contact Karla Hogan at (541) 409-0547.
Wednesday, Dec. 14
— Sweet Home Police Department Sharing Tree Distribution, evening: Sweet Home Police Department Teen Sharing Tree gifts available.
Thursday and Friday, Dec. 15-16
— Sweet Home Fire & Ambulance District Gift Distribution, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Gifts available for pickup for those who have registered for The Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District’s Christmas for Kids Sharing Tree toy program. Location: Old City Hall, 1140 12th Ave.
Saturday, Dec 17
— Gingerbread House Contest, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Sweet Home New Life in Christ Fellowship, 1266 44th Ave. The public is invited to view the handiwork of local gingerbread house artisans, whose work will be on display. Free.
OTHER AREA EVENTS
— Mennonite Village will host “Grief and the Holidays” from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, at the Lakeside Center, 5353 Columbus St., S.E., Albany.
The presentation and discussion will address the many complications that can arise during the holiday season and ways that individuals can cope and potentially thrive.
While the bulk of the discussion will center around grief related to the death of a loved one, it will also address the grief that comes from life experiences, including those brought about by the pandemic.
There is no admission charge. For more information, contact Christina Harkenss at [email protected].
— Want to hunt for a tree where they live? Christmas tree permits offered by the U.S. Forest Service allow the holder to cut their own in the Sweet Home Ranger District.
Permits are $5 each; online purchases require an additional $2.50 service fee. Visit bit.ly/WNFtree for downloadable maps of Christmas Tree cutting areas and a list of local vendors selling Christmas tree permits.
Each permit allows the holder to cut one tree in designated areas and each household can purchase up to five permits.
All fourth-grade students can get a free Christmas Tree permit by getting their Every Kid Outdoors pass and then either visiting one of the Willamette National Forest offices (except the Detroit Ranger Station) or Recreation.gov and entering their voucher or pass number when prompted.
While hunting for a tree, you can also hunt for ornaments.
The Willamette Valley Visitors Association has launched its fifth annual ornament hunt, running through Dec. 31. In partnership with Cascade Volunteers, 200 ornaments have been hidden along trails on the Detroit, Sweet Home, McKenzie River, and Middle Fork Ranger Districts in the Willamette National Forest and on the Cottage Grove Ranger District in the Umpqua National Forest. The hunt encourages local communities and travelers to connect with public lands and increase outdoor recreation activities.
For more information on the ornament hunt contest and a list of participating trails, visit willamettevalley.org/ornament.
Some words of advice: Keep safety top of mind and be aware of your surroundings whether looking for a Christmas tree or hunting for ornaments.
Cutting trees in some areas of the Willamette National Forest is prohibited; tree hunters should check maps prior to selecting their tree and remain outside of closed areas. Winter weather in the forest can change rapidly.
Forest roads are not maintained for winter driving. Forest staff recommend bringing traction devices and a shovel, extra food, drinking water, winter clothing, blankets, a flashlight, and a first aid kit. Additionally, bring a tool for cutting a tree and a rope or cord to secure it to a vehicle. Tree cutting and travel may take longer than anticipated.
Let a friend or family member know where you are going, get an early start, and leave the woods before dark.