Sweet Home will kick off its annual holiday celebration this weekend with bazaars, the Christmas tree auction, the Singing Christmas Tree performances, the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Christmas Parade and more.
The lighting of the Christmas tree at East Linn Museum, 746 Long St., will be one of the weekend’s first events. It is planned for 6 p.m. and will include caroling and hot chocolate and coffee provided by Fir Lawn Lutheran Church.
The Christmas Parade, which once again will focus on the theme “Christmas Cards from Sweet Home,” is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at 18th Avenue and Long Street and will move westward on Long to 10th Avenue.
“It’s looking good,” said Patti Woods, a chamber board member who is helping to organize the event. She said that, as of the beginning of this week, the chamber had received 20-some entries. The parade had 25 last year.
This year’s line-up will include the Sportsman’s Holiday Court, who will escort Santa and Mrs. Claus into town, and a variety of local dignitaries including Sweet Home Mayor Craig Fentiman and newly elected state Rep. Sherrie Sprenger.
“We’re bringing Sweet Home back into the Christmas Holiday,” Woods said. “That’s what we want.”
The parade is sponsored this year by Primasing Motors, Steelhead Fitness, Fir Lawn Lutheran Church and Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital.
Following the parade, children can have their pictures taken with Santa and Mrs. at the carport area of the Chamber of Commerce, 1575 Main St. Photos, which will be delivered to participants, cost $1 each. For information call 367-6186.
Woods said that, in an effort to remind local residents to take advantage of shopping available downtown, merchants are being encouraged to wear green ribbons that say “Merry Christmas, Thank you for shopping in Sweet Home.”
Christmas bazaars will be held in four locations on Friday and/or Saturday.
The Evangelical Church will hold its bazaar from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6, at the church fellowship hall, 1347 Long St.
The East Linn Museum’s bazaar will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the high school Activity Gym.
The Genealogical Society will hold its bazaar from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the society library, 1223 Kalmia St.
The Friends of the Library will hold a craft sale and bazaar each Friday through December, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the library, 1101 13th Ave.
Chamber Executive Director Michelle Anderson said she has seen “a very positive response” to the holiday sales.
“I probably get three or four calls a day,” she said, adding that the majority of inquiries are about the bazaars.
“Sweet Home is famous for its sales. “The Singing Christmas Tree will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6, at the high school auditorium. A matinee performance will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.
The Singing Christmas Tree is a community choir that gives an annual free performance as a gift to the Linn County the and surrounding area. The theme of the program this year is “The Christmas Family: His and Ours.”
Traditional Christmas carols and songs will be sung by the 40- member choir. There will be an audience sing-along and Santa and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance to greet children during the intermission.
The Sweet Home Alumni Foundation will hold its annual Trees for Scholarships event at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Sweet Home High School Cafeteria, 1651 Long St.
In addition to a live Christmas Tree Auction featuring a wide variety of painstakingly decorated trees, there will also be food and beverages and a silent auction featuring baked goods, Christmas gifts and decorations, theme baskets, fine arts and more.
Trees can be previewed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Dec. 6.
Cost is $15 per person with tickets available at the Linn-Benton Community College Sweet Home branch, located next to the high school, or at the door.
All proceeds from the event go to scholarships for graduating seniors at SHHS.