By Seth Truscott

and Allison Espiritu

Valley Record Staff

Residents in Carnation, Snoqualmie and Fall City rung in the season with community tree lighting ceremonies last weekend.

In downtown Snoqualmie, hundreds braved chilly temperatures to watch as Santa Claus arrived via fire truck, sirens roaring, to light up the official tree at Railroad Park. Children watched and waved as Santa strode through the crowd, then sat patiently to greet a long line of families and pose for photos.

The Mount Si High School choir and the community band Sno Valley Winds sang songs of the Christmas season to rouse the crowd. Popcorn flowed freely from a cart vendor, and families took wagon rides.

Two nights later, Santa sat in his sleigh as Christmas carols made their way out of Fall City Elementary’s gymnasium. It was a veritable night at the North Pole on Saturday, Dec. 5, during Fall City’s annual tree lighting ceremony.

To kick off the night, student choral groups and jazz bands from fifth through eighth grades performed season favorites. Parents and residents of Fall City filled the gym out the door to hear the harmonious sounds of the holidays.

Following the festive performance, everyone was invited to head outside for the tree lighting countdown.

Caroling their way to Olive Taylor Quigley Park, the community lined main street as they counted down. To their surprise, it was not only one tree but a whole corridor of trees leading into downtown Fall City that lit up the night for the holiday season.

In Carnation, residents gathered on Saturday morning for a scavenger hunt by Friends of Valley Memorial Park, solving riddles and gathering stamps to help the park.

Chellee Pischalko, owner of Chellee’s World coffee shop, stamped clue-seekers’ sheets with the image of a globe. She said the park deserves a new lease on life.

“The men’s club started the park in the 1940s,” Pischalko said. “The Mom’s Club is now finishing it.”

Holiday fun in Carnation continued that afternoon with a tree lighting.