“Buddy the Elf,” a beloved character of the 2003 film “Elf,” wants everyone to visit his friends in downtown North Bend this holiday season. Businesses will participate in Small Business Saturday (Nov. 30), Holly Days, and festivities.

The North Bend Downtown Foundation (NBDF) has been taking pictures of patrons, staffers and shop owners with Buddy (a cardboard cutout) all over downtown and posting to their Facebook page to promote local businesses and spread holiday cheer (https://www.facebook.com/NorthBendDowntownFoundation/).

NBDF president Beth Burrows and vice president of communications Deb Landers have been carefully carrying the cutout of Buddy from storefront to storefront, catching the smiles and excitement of many passersby. The pair aim to photograph as many downtown businesses as they can by Black Friday (Nov. 29).

“It’s fun. We have a great time,” Burrows said. “Last year we got such a positive response and so many fun comments that we decided to do it again. It’s just fun taking Buddy around. It makes everybody smile.”

“We love our community,” Landers said.

Burrows also is the owner of the North Bend Theatre, where there will be a free showing of the movie “Elf” at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6. There also will be a fundraiser at the theatre benefiting Trail Youth Coffee Home.

The Holly Days old-fashioned downtown festival and tree lighting ceremony is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 6. More information can be found online at discovernorthbend.com.

During that festival the NBDF will host three or four fire pits for attendees to roast marshmallows and make s’mores. The ingredients are donated by the North Bend QFC and the pits will be staffed by local scouts.

Various downtown businesses and restaurants will have activities and crafts for kids and adults, and there will even be a free photo opp with Santa at Singletrack Cycles. Earlier that day, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will be a Holiday Bazaar at Mount Si Senior Center, and there will be a Valley Center Stage production of “A Christmas Carol” at 7:30 p.m.

Holiday happenings continue throughout that weekend. A Santa pancake breakfast will be at the senior center on Saturday, and another round of the holiday bazaar. A bazaar also will be at Si View Metro Parks.

Buddy and his smile can be spotted around town over the next several weeks.

Theresa Nielson (L) and Julie Edwards break from their lunch date to pose for a photo with Buddy the Elf inside The Iron Duck in North Bend. The North Bend Downtown Foundation is encouraging folks to shop local this holiday season. Natalie DeFord/staff photo