Sean C. Morgan
A Christmas tree lighting at Clover Memorial Park will kick off the Christmas in Sweet Home cele-bration at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1.
Christmas cards are already set up around the community and will light up that night as well. The community has more than 100 “life-size” lighted Christmas cards designed and painted by local artists and groups on display throughout town.
The Christmas tree lighting has been held at the Chamber of Commerce on a smaller donated tree for several years, but city staffers Mollie Laycock and Connie DeBusschere suggested to chamber staff that it move to Clover, said Katrina Crabtree, chamber executive director. The new tree is a 50-foot fir.
Wendi Melcher of Heritage Northwest Real Estate decorated the fountain at the park, and White’s Collision Service has decorated the Whitmore Covered Bridge.
Various others have contributed time, talent and money to decorating the park, Crabtree said.
“Clover Park is more public, and it’s pretty,” Crabtree said.
“It seemed that the chamber had lost its big main tree,” Laycock said. “And even though we got a small one donated, it seemed to be lacking oomph.”
Ralston Park in Lebanon has a large decorated tree, Laycock said, and that inspired the local planners.
“We thought coming into town, Clover would be perfect,” Laycock said, and it has a tree there already. “We need to take advantage of the city parks, and Clover is a pretty park.”
She and DeBusschere have had the idea in mind for a couple of years but hadn’t been able to make the switch until this year.
Organizers had bucket lifts available to put up the lights, Laycock said, but something came up and the donor wasn’t able to do it. Now they’re struggling to find someone else to do it.
They have calls out to different people who may be able to provide lifts to put up the lights on the tree, she said. “Hopefully everything will work out.”
Events will continue during the following weekends:
n Singing Christmas Tree, “Christmas, the Universal Gift,” 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sweet Home High School Auditorium, 1641 Long St.
– Christmas Parade, “A Christmas Tradition,” 11 a.m. Saturday, Long Street between 18th and 10th avenues.
n Trees for Scholarships, 6 p.m., silent auction and social hour; 7:30 p.m., live auction; 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., public viewing, Saturday, Sweet Home High School cafeteria, 1641 Long St.
– Live Nativity, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Dec. 10 and Dec. 17. Carriage rides available 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. both nights.
n Fifth Annual Rocking Around the Christmas Tree, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 10. More than 20 Sweet Home business are involved with more than $400 in cash and prizes. Participants can pick up a passport at any participating business, have them stamped and redeemed for cash. The cash giveaway begins at 6 p.m. at the Home Sweet Home Cafe. Participants must be present to win.
– Second Annual Kids Free Christmas Store, noon to 4 p.m., Dec. 10, Sweet Home Evangelical Church, 1347 Long St. This is a free store for children 12 and young to shop for their families. Gift wrapping, cookies and hot chocolate will be available. For more information, call (541) 409-4276.
n Holiday bazaars scheduled for Dec. 2-4 and Dec. 10 include the following:
– Elite Performance, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 2-3, 933 Main St.
– Friends of the Library, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 2-3, Friends of the Library Bookstore, 12th and Long.
– Evangelical Church, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 2-3 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Dec. 4., 1347 Long St.
– Genealogical Library, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 2-3, 1223 Kalmia St.
– Girl Scouts Holiday Bazaar, 9-4 p.m., Dec. 10, Sweet Home High School Activity Gym, 1641 Long St.
– Holly Berry Corner, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 2-3, 1146 18th Ave.