NORTH COUNTY – A Community Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will be held in Tonasket on Friday, Dec. 4 and in Oroville on Saturday, Dec. 5 and everyone is encouraged to come and help ring in the coming holidays.
The tree lighting is part of the larger Winterfest in Tonasket. Caroling groups are needed for the event and are asked to sign up with Sylvia Williams at the Tonasket Visitor’s and Business Resource Center in order to compete in the caroling contest on Friday, Dec. 4, which begins at 5 p.m.
The singers need to sign up before the event so that a sign can be set up along Whitcomb Avenue which will tell voters the name of the group and also tell each group where to set up. Another reason groups need to sign up before the event is so that the number of necessary volunteers can be known.
The groups will begin singing at 5 p.m. and will continue until the firetrucks transporting Santa and Mrs. Claus to the Day Park goes by. After the tree lighting, the groups will each perform their best song in the gazebo. Fifteen minutes worth of seasonal music is suggested for the competition, since groups will be repeating songs. Warm socks are also suggested.
For more information about the caroling contest, contact Williams at (509) 486-4543.
Oroville’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held at Centennial Park starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday and will feature caroling and a visit from Santa with lots of candy canes. There will be hot dogs and hot chocolate as well, according to Rich Solberg, president of the Oroville Chamber of Commerce.
Also on Saturday in Oroville the seventh annual Okanogan Borderlands Historical Society Christmas Social at The Depot will. Those attending are asked to dress in period costume and bring a dessert to enjoy while listening to great music. Admission to the event is by ticket only, call (509) 476-2476 for more information.
During Tonasket Winterfest, a log-cutting contest for both adults and children will take place while children meet Santa Claus and take rides on the fire trucks. There will also be free hot chocolate and cider provided by the Tonasket Kiwanis Club as well as other snacks from vendors.
The Winterfest committee will be decorating the Day Park on Sunday, Nov. 29 beginning at noon.
After Winterfest is over, Williams, with the help of the 4-H Club, will be doing gift wrapping at the TVBRC from Dec. 14 through Dec. 19. A workshop titled “How to Gift Wrap” will be hosted at the center on Sunday, Dec. 13 at noon. A nominal donation would be appreciated for the gift wrapping, which will be done from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
