Warm up those chestnuts and put on your caroling clothes. This season marks the first time in a while that all four Snoqualmie Valley cities have observed individual Christmas gatherings.
North Bend is holding its first such celebration in years this weekend, joining Snoqualmie, Fall City and Carnation in festivities. The tree lighting is the work of some of the same folks behind the city’s new marketing campaign.
If their success in organizing a holiday event is any sign, it means that the group’s big plans to grow North Bend’s name and fame are in good hands.
In 2011, the North Bend Marketing Committee will add a number of outdoors-themed runs and expos to the Valley’s already-busy summer lineup.
Our cities may be modest in size, but residents put on a smorgasbord of annual activities, from duck races to classical music festivals. North Bend’s plans for 2011 are only the latest push for communities that are always doing, pushing and growing.
Even the weather doesn’t slow locals down. Two weekends ago, the Valley hosted not one but two footraces—the Winter Pineapple Classic benefit for the regional chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the homegrown Snoqualmie Ridge Turkey Trot. Thousands of people took part despite frigid, wet weather.
What do these events mean for you? Busier streets and busier businesses. Growth and change. Branding North Bend as a destination means more people will want to visit, maybe even move here.
Of course, growth also brings many challenges. Some of those can be mitigated, but some changes, like lost neighborhood character, are never easy to endure.
Still, I’d bet that most local business owners would welcome the marketing group’s plans, just as most wouldn’t mind seeing a healthy crowd strolling through town this week, before and after the tree lightings and Santa photos. One of the biggest reasons to get behind these festivals is that they help our economy at a crucial time.
Change is inevitable, often a community’s only constant. The efforts of the people behind these marketing efforts show that they care about their community. By showcasing the Valley, they put us on the map for visitors and residents alike while inspiring involvement and action in the community. That’s something we can all be proud of.
When you see Santa this weekend, think about what these kind of community gathering means to you. Such events show the real spirit of a small town, offering a venue for people to meet and recreate as neighbors, not strangers.
If you are so inclined, don’t forget to attend your community’s holiday celebration.
• Snoqualmie’s tree lighting party is 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, at the Railroad Park gazebo.
• Fall City’s tree lighting and concert begins at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at North Bend Elementary and Quigley Park.
• Carnation’s party is 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday in the downtown area near Hopelink.
• North Bend’s lighting is 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5 at the corner of Bendigo Boulevard and North Bend Way.
