Thanksgiving is Thursday. The list of open restaurants and other food and beverage businesses is below. Click for Free Community Dinner information.
There are a lot of great events packed into the short few weeks that immediately follow!
Mrs. Claus and the Polar Express Conductor
Friday begins the celebration of Holidays at the Beach. Join the Long Beach Merchant Association and the City of Long Beach in welcoming the Season of Giving! All ages are welcome Friday afternoon at the Neptune Theater for a complimentary showing of “The Polar Express”, hosted by Mrs. Claus and a few special guests! After the show, bring the kids downtown to admire our storefronts decorated for the holidays.
Saturday brings magic and Santa Claus to town! Be sure to catch one of Mrs. Claus’ magic shows, buy a gift to wrap at the wrapping station, and take pictures with Santa! Later, enjoy caroling and the City of Long Beach’s tree lighting ceremony with The Mayor and our special guests.
Sunday we celebrate Frosty the Snowman’s Birthday! Bring a donation of hat, scarves, mittens or other winter clothing. Enjoy more magic with Mrs. Claus and Frosty as well as decoration activity stations and birthday cake, of course! Visit Holidays at the Beach online for more details.
Also this coming weekend you’ll find 29 artists in 18 locations offering up Studio Tours–an event produced by the Peninsula Arts Association. More info at 665-5133 or by visiting www.beachartist.org.
Beginning on Saturday, and continuing Saturdays through December 28th, is Saturday Christmas Market at the Port! 16 Vendors with gifts, arts & crafts, holiday ornaments, jams, jellies, jewelry and much, much more! 11 am to 6 pm, INDOORS at 157 Howerton way at the Port of Ilwaco.
And that’s just weekend #1 of the festivities!
PHOTO: ANN SAARI
Saturday, December 5th, kicks off Ilwaco’s third annual Holiday Celebration at the Port of Ilwaco. Saturday starts off with the Christmas Saturday Market, featuring Pacific Northwest Arts & Crafts vendors from 11 am until 6 pm. The Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum, located on Lake Street in Ilwaco, will host a Local Author’s Book Fair from 1 until 4pm. The event will showcase local and regional authors discussing and signing their latest creations.
The lighting of the “World’s Tallest t Christmas Tree” will start at 5pm at the west end of the Port of Ilwaco. Everyone is welcome. There will be the “World’s Shortest Fireworks Display“, refreshments and caroling led by renowned tenor Richard Ellis.
The 5th annual Ilwaco Lighted Boat Parade immediately follows. Judging is at 5pm and the Parade begins at 6pm sharp. All decorated boats are encouraged to attend, regardless of size or type. Participants are invited to the Imperial Schooner for the awards presentation and goodies.
Click for details on Ilwaco’s Celebration!
Pending marine toxin tests showing the clams are safe to eat, we’ll have a Razor Clam Dig the same weekend:
- Wednesday, Dec. 2 (6:32 p.m. -1.2 ft.)
- Friday, Dec. 4 (8:04 p.m. -1.3 ft.)
- Saturday, Dec. 5 (8:51 p.m. -0.9 ft.)
Then, bundle up and travel on the Tall Ship Lady Washington between ports! She’s repositining from Astoria to Ilwaco on December 9th and from Ilwaco to Westport on December 14th and, if you hurry, you can get a ticket to ride along. She’ll also be offering 3-hour tours on December 12th & 13th. More info & tickets: www.ladywashington.org.
Speaking of December 12 & 13…
Of all the faces of Christmas perhaps the most memorable is that of music. From traditional to whimsical, music brings remembrances that are enduring and joyful. Make memories with your family by attending the FREE concert “A Tuba Christmas” produced by the Water Music Festival.
Tubas, you say? Aren’t they the ungainly giants at the rear of bands marching at football games or in parades? Don’t they just play monotonous low notes to make the other instruments sound better? Not at all! Technically, tubas embrace a range of horns including euphoniums, baritone horns, French horns, and, yes, tubas. When played together by talented musicians of the Astoria Tuba Quartet the sounds of the season come alive in a rich, deep sound that will warm and brighten a cool winter’s day.
But wait! There’s more!
Bed, Beach & Breakfast Inns of the Long Beach Peninsula beckon you to join in the holiday festivities at their annual open house on December 12 & 13. Enjoy sweet treats, sparkling drinks and take advantage of this opportunity to have a grand tour of these inns, decked out in all their holiday finery. Charitable donations of one canned food item per party will be accepted and distributed to a local food bank.
From 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. plan to take advantage of this opportunity to tour your local Bed and Breakfast inns and sample their warm hospitality. The innkeepers are delighted to host your next batch of out-of-town guests and invite you to check out their offerings this December during the open house.
On Sunday, December 13th, a festive and lavish Christmas Home Tour benefits the Boys & Girls Club of the Long Beach Peninsula. Each home is uniquely decorated and filled with tasty food, music and the sprit of Christmas. This writer has heard nothing but rave reviews!
