Families can discover a winter’s worth of smiles at many Snoqualmie Valley community events planned for the holiday season, including:
Snoqualmie festivities
Snoqualmie Tree Lighting Ceremony and activities are 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, at Railroad Park. Families can get their photos taken with Santa, enjoy a wagon ride, sing carols, and more.
North Bend Tree Lighting
The North Bend Tree Lighting Ceremony is 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, tentatively planned for the corner of Bendigo Boulevard and North Bend Way. Family activities include carol singing, a fire pit, marshmallow and chestnut roasting, hot chocolate and cider sipping, and vendors. Look for choirs, rosy faces and plenty of holiday cheer.
School music and tree lighting
The Fall City Days annual school music program and Tree Lighting Festival is 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Fall City Elementary gymnasium, 33314 S.E. 42nd Pl., Fall City. Visitors can enjoy the sounds of the Fall City Elementary school chorus and the Chief Kanim Middle School Chamber Ensembles. Bring a camera, because Santa will be in his sleigh, ready to pose with children. Following the program, carolers are invited to stroll to Olive Taylor Quigley Park and begin the countdown to light the community tree.
Art Park celebration
The Fall City Arts Art Park Gathering will happen before and after the tree lighting ceremony in the art park, located at the corner of Highway 202 and 335th Place, across from Quigley Park. The Fall City Arts organization invites visitors to enjoy the decorations, lights and a bonfire while sipping a steaming cup of cocoa or cider. Music and caroling will create a festive atmosphere to kick off the holiday season.
Si View bazaar
The Holiday Bazaar at Si View Community Center is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, in the Si View gym. Admission is free. The bazaar features local arts and crafts vendors with a great variety of locally handmade goods, perfect for holiday gift shopping. The entertainment line-up for the day includes dance recitals and musical performances by local talents. To learn more, call (425) 831-1900.
Fall City bazaar
The Fall City Arts Holiday Market is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at Chief Kanim Middle School commons, 32627 S.E. Redmond-Fall City Road, Fall City. This is the 11th year of the market, which offers handmade items from talented crafters and artists in the local community. Look for framed prints, clothing, ornaments, candles, jewelry, lotions, soaps, fabric items, stationery, pottery and garden art. Holiday items include wreaths, swags, cedar garlands and live poinsettias.
Santa Train
Northwest Railway Museum runs weekend “Santa Train” again this season. A Northwest tradition since 1969, the event allows participants of all ages to travel by train for a visit with Santa Claus and to enjoy refreshments (included with tickets) served from the Museum’s railway kitchen car. Children visiting with Santa receive a small gift and there is time to visit local shops and attractions. Santa Train 2010 is scheduled for Nov. 27 and 28, Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12 , 17 and 18. Trains depart hourly from North Bend. Learn more at www.trainmuseum.org.
Mountain Film Festival
If the holiday season means snow fun for you and your family, be sure to check out North Bend’s 2010 Mountain Film Festival. Running for five consecutive days and evenings from Sunday, Dec. 5 through Thursday, Dec. 9, at North Bend Theatre, the event brings great outdoor films and selections from the Banff Mountain Film Festival Tour. Additionally, the festival will show-case the results of the North Bend Amateur Film Challenge. The challenge will highlight the top video submissions from the contest, featuring local “adventure-based” content.
Chamber gala
Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce’s chief fundraiser of the year, the upcoming “Aloka” luau and auction, is Friday, Nov. 19, at the Snoqualmie Casino Ballroom.
Action begins at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour, followed at 7 p.m. with a luau buffet. Ticket information is available at www.snovalley.org. To learn more, call (425) 888-6362.
