Sweet Home kicks off its annual Christmas celebration Thursday, Dec. 30, with a tree lighting ceremony at Clover Park that will lead into an eventful weekend that will include such local holiday standards as the Singing Christmas Tree, the Christmas Parade, a variety of local bazaars and the Christmas Tree Auction.
Here is a list of local events and locations:
Tree Lighting
Sweet Home’s Christmas Tree Lighting Party will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, at Clover Park, at the corner of 1st Avenue and Main Street.
Sweet Home Christmas Parade
The annual parade will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, on Long Street between 22nd and 10th avenues.
This year’s theme is “A Christmas Toyland.” Santa Claus will be aboard at least one float, with Mrs. Claus another possible attendee, said Parade Chairwoman Debbie Walvatne.
Staging will be at Husky Field and entries may disband at East Linn Museum.
Parade entry forms are available at the Chamber of Commerce, 1575 Main St.
At the end of the parade route, 10th and Long, “we are doing the popcorn log again,” Walvatne said.
Last year, chunks of the popcorn log were cut out with an ax and distributed to children.
Jan Hufford of Cedar Shack is making the popcorn log. Ted Hufford is donating the cash to pay for it. Paige Banta Peterson is making the float for the log.
Santa Claus will ride in the parade; Walvatne and Mrs. Claus may join him.
The entry fee is $20. Entry forms may be dropped off at the Chamber of Commerce.
Two trophies will be given, a Sweepstakes Award and a Committee’s Choice, she said. Each division will have first- through third-place ribbons.
The Parade Committee has sufficient volunteers for the event but is still seeking judges, Walvatne said.
Anyone who has a nonprofit group who would like to judge or looking for more information may contact Walvatne (541) 570-2218.
Trees for Scholarships Auction
The 14th Annual Decorated Tree Auction and Dinner Buffet will be held beginning at 5:30 Saturday, Dec. 2, at 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 5:30 to 7:30 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. where lavishly decorated trees will go to the highest bidders.
Public viewing of completed trees is from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Cost to attend is $20 per person which includes a holiday dinner buffet and desserts.
All proceeds go to support college scholarships for SHHS graduating seniors. Just pay at the door.
For more information or to donate to the silent auction, call Lauri at (541) 401-3148 or [email protected]. To RSVP and/or reserve a table for your family or group call Shari Smith at (541) 409-4019 or [email protected].
Christmas Card Display
More than 100 lighted “life-size Christmas cards,” designed and painted by local artists and groups on display throughout town, after set-up over the past weekend. The cards are located on church lawns and in residential neighborhoods such as Canyon Creek (south end of 10th Avenue), Meridian Heights Loop, and the 29th and Foothill area. The cards will be visible through the holiday season.
Singing Christmas Tree
Sweet Home Singing Christmas Tree will perform its 35th annual holiday program Dec. 1-3 at the newly renovated Sweet Home High School Auditorium, 1661 Long St.
The all-volunteer 32-voice choir performs on a 25-foot-high tree with genuine boughs. This year’s program, “The Love of Christmas,” directed by Paul Rowton, will feature secular music, along with a light show and a visit by Santa during intermission. A quilt and other items donated by Tree Members will be conducted.
The program will include “Oh, Lord, I Give You Praise” (“Panis Angelicus”), “Home for the Holidays,” Barbara Streisand’s version of “Jingle Bells,” “The Peace Carol”, the traditional finale – Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus,” in which choir alumni are invited to participate – and much more.
The free performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 and Saturday, Dec. 2, and an afternoon matinee at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. Donations are accepted.
Seats may be reserved and the auditorium is walker- and wheelchair-accessible. For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Sue at (541) 367-4639 or Sherry at (541) 367-4824.
Bazaars
Holiday bazaars, scheduled for the next week, are:
– Friends of the Library, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 1-2, Friends of the Library Bookstore, 12th and Long.
– Evangelical Church, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 2, 1347 Long St.
– Genealogical Library, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 1-2, 1223 Kalmia St.
– S.A.F.E. Bazaar, 9-4 p.m., Dec. 2, Sweet Home High School Activity Gym, 1641 Long St.
– Holly Berry Corner, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 1-2, 1146 18th Ave.
– VFW Bazaar, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 2, 580 Main St.
– Love Thy Neighbor Services will have a Holiday Vendor Fair from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7 at Home Sweet Home Cafe, 1333 Main St.
Twenty vendors are expected.
Gingerbread house contest
Sweet Home Mennonite Church will host a Gingerbread House Competition from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2.
Competitors will make gingerbread houses, which must be submitted in advance, from 3 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. The church is at 1266 44th Ave.
Competition age categories are 5-8, 9-12, 13-17 and 18 and over – Adult. Ribbons will be awarded for first through third place in each division and a cash award of $25 will go to the Best in Show winner in each age group.
The houses will also be auctioned off, with proceeds going to contestants.
Entrants are asked to pre-register so organizers know how many houses to expect and can arrange for adequate space.
Judging will take place on Dec. 2, with members of the public invited to stop by and choose their favorite house for a People’s Choice Award.
The entry fee is a canned food item, which will be donated to SHEM.
A gingerbread house will be raffled off, with all attendees receiving a free ticket. Food will be available at a bake sale and a Cookie Corner will provide children with a chance to decorate a cookie and take it home (with parental supervision).
For more information, call (541) 367-2848.
Wreath Making at Ranger Station
Sweet Home Ranger District will offer a Wreath Making and Holiday Decor activity at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the district headquarters, 4431 Highway 20, in Sweet Home.
Learn to assemble holiday swags and wreaths from locally pre-collected forest products such as boughs, cones and berries. A limited number of wreath rings will be available, so bring your own if possible, along with clippers and wire. The activity will be held in a heated area.
For more information, call (541) 367-5168.
Kids Free Christmas Store
The third annual Kids Free Christmas Store, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9, art Sweet Home Evangelical Church, 1347 Long St.
Children 12 and under will be able to select gifts, at no cost, for members of their family. Individuals and businesses contribute cash to purchase or items for the store. Children will be helped shopping and then have their gift wrapped. They will then take the presents home and put under the tree. Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided for the children as they wait to shop.
Donations of unwrapped and new gifts, under $10, for any age and gender, tissue and gift bags will be accepted through Thursday, Dec. 7. Items may be dropped off at Santiam Variety Discount Store in the Safeway shopping center, Trash to Treasure at 1023 Main St., the Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce on Main Street, or the Evangelical Church on Long Street.
Volunteer help is needed. For more information or to volunteer, contact Nancy Patton at (541) 409-4276. For a fuller story on the Christmas Store, see page 9.
‘Christmas Carol’
Rickie Birran, who performs as Man of Words Theater, will present a dramatic recitation of “A Christmas Carol” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, at the Sweet Home Public Library, 1101 13th Avenue.
The event is free.
Birran, of Springfield, has performed Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic 124 times, personifying each of 25 distinct characters.
For more information, call (541) 367-5007.
Other area holiday events include:
LAFTA Christmas Show
Lebanon Association for Theatre Arts will hold its annual Christmas Show from 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at Lebanon High School Auditorium, 1700 S. 5th St.
In addition to a variety of vocal performances and the sing-along, an Ugliest Sweater Contest will be held. A variety of goodies – hot chocolate, wassail, Tim Tam Slams and other sweets – will be available for purchase during the intermission.
Admission is $5 per person or $10 per family.
Tack and Horsey Crafts
Hand in Hand Farm will hold its 11th annual Cowboy Christmas Tack and Horsey Craft Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2 at 35105 Ede Road, Lebanon.
Items for sale will include Christmas, country, and horse lovers décor, gifts and tack.
For more information, call (541) 451-1243.
Candy Cane Express
Celebrate the holiday season on Saturdays and Sundays, starting Dec. 2 and running through Christmas, on the Candy Cane Express, starting at Santiam Travel Station 750 S. 3rd St., Lebanon.
The one-hour train rides, offered by Santiam Excursion Trains, will be offered at 1 and 3 p.m. each day, except for Dec. 22, which will feature evening runs at 6 and 8 p.m. They will include hot cocoa, candy canes, an arts and crafts station, and a movie station. Santa, Mrs. Claus and maybe an elf or two will be along on each ride for family photo ops and to make sure your wish list gets to the right man.
Each ride features four or five cars, with inside seating open to all. They include a bar car with seating and a fully stocked bar and beverage section, a luggage car that houses the movie station, arts and crafts and the popcorn for purchase.
The dining car has big bay windows and lots of open seating and tables. These are antique cars and are not ADA-compliant.
An open-top car is available for those who wish fresh air. Rides run rain or shine so come dressed for the weather.
Santiam Excursion Trains will donate all tips from the Candy Cane Express to the following local organizations: Dec. 2-3 to Lebanon High School cheer team; Dec. 9-10 to ABC House; Dec. 16-17 to Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Santiam; and Dec. 22-23 to Dala’s Blue Angels and Honor Flight.
For more information, including prices, visit santiam-excursion-trains.ticketleap.com/candy-cane-express2017.
LBCC Fall Choir Concert
Linn-Benton Community College’s choirs will hold their fall concert “Whispered and Revealed” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, at Russell Tripp Performance Center, Takena Hall, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany.
The evening will include performances by LBCC’s award-winning concert and chamber choirs, and performances by the vocal a cappella groups Blue Light Special and The Sirens.
Featured choral works include “Silent Night” and “Friendly Beasts,” with the a cappella groups performing works including “River” and “Human.”
General admission is $10; students, seniors and veterans are $7. Purchase online at http://www.linnbenton.edu/tickets or at the theater box office one hour prior to performance.
For more information, contact the LBCC Theater Box Office at (541) 917-4531.
Lebanon Community Chorus
The Lebanon Community Chorus will present its Winter Classical Concert, “The Music of Stillness,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at the First Assembly of God church, 726 W. Oak St.
Colin Salisbury will direct performances of choral compositions from the 20th and 21st century, including “Five Hebrew Love Songs” by Eric Whitacre, “Alleluia” by Randall Thompson, the traditional Appalachian carol “I Wonder as I Wander,” “The Music of Stillness” by Elaine Hagenberg and “Christmas Day” by Gustav Holst.
Admission is $10; seniors over 55 are $6 and there is no charge for attendees under 18. Tickets are available at the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, Lebanon Bi-Mart, from current singers and at the door.
A portion of the proceeds will go to the Lebanon Schools Foundation Music Education Fund, which is being made available to upgrade musical instruments used by ele-mentary school teachers in basic music instruction.
For more information, contact Carol Sedlacek at (541) 401-4606 or Jim Rutledge at (806) 341-2328.
Christmas Storybook Land
The 41st edition of Christmas Storybook Land will take place Dec. 1-15 at Linn County Fair and Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road.
Hours are 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, and 2 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8 and 15.
Admission is free, but visitors are encouraged to bring canned food or personal hygiene items for a local food bank.
See an enormous indoor Christmas forest wonderland with over 100 scenes of characters from Mother Goose rhymes, children’s fairy tales and family movies, two elaborate model train displays, a Victorian Village and the North Pole with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
For more information call (541) 928-4656 or visit http://www.Christmas StorybookLand.org.
‘The Nutcracker’
Legacy Ballet will present “The Nutcracker” Dec. 7-9 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. at Linn-Benton Community College’s Russell Tripp Performance Center, Ellingson Road SW, Albany.
The production features adult and children dancers from the community as sugar plum fairies, bon bons, toy soldiers, mice and more.
Tickets are $14 per person.
For more information, visit [email protected] or call (541) 917-4531.
‘Messiah’
Corvallis Repertory Singers will perform the Christmas portion of Handel’s “Messiah” and seasonal favorites from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at First United Methodist Church, 1165 NW Monroe Ave.
The performance will include chorus, orchestra, and soloists. Tickets are $25 for floor seating and $18 for balcony. OSU students and K-12 youths are free with valid ID.
For more information, call (541) 231-3419 or email repsing.org.