By Mary Owen
Holiday cheer appears in many forms throughout the Santiam Canyon area this month as everyone prepares festivities.
Silver Falls State Park
The elves at Silver Falls State Park are getting ready for the 40th annual Christmas Festival in the South Falls Historic District. The one-day event will take place Saturday, Dec. 9, 11 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
“There is something new at the festival this year!” said Lou Nelson, with Friends of Silver Falls, sponsors of the event. “The Silver Falls Lodge and Conference Center will be offering roasted chestnuts, popcorn, coffee and cocoa. They will have holiday craft stations and carnival-style games with prizes. There will be snowflake flurries each hour!”
A shuttle bus will run continuously from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. between the conference center and the South Falls Day Use area where the rest of the day’s activities take place. From decorated trees to thousands of lights, the park is prepared to delight visitors. Story-telling, wreath-making, and nature crafts will be part of the day, and holiday souvenirs and gifts will be available at the South Falls Nature Store – everything from handmade hats, pens and ornaments to field guides and toys.
A day-use parking permit is required to park at Silver Falls. Visitors can purchase a one-day permit for $5. A one-year permit is on sale Dec. 1-31 for $25, and two-year passes are $50.
For a detailed schedule, call visit www.SilverFallsStatePark.wordpress.com.
Stayton
On Saturday, Dec. 2, activities begin early. The 27th annual Toys for Joy Santa Cruise-In and Firefighters Breakfast runs 8-11 a.m. at the Stayton Fire Station.
“Come join us for breakfast and stay for the car show,” is the invitation from local firefighters.
Pancakes, eggs and ham hot off the grill with coffee, juice and milk is the fare. Cost is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and children 12 and under. The event is a fundraiser for Toys for Joy. Toy donations will still be welcomed at the breakfast.
Cruise-in registration is at 8 a.m. Entry fee is a new, unwrapped toy. Awards will be given for first through third place. For information, call Russ, 503-930-8976.
Doors open at 9 a.m. for the 45th annual Stayton Christmas and Craft Bazaar at Stayton Middle School. More than 100 vendors will offer wares for sale until
`3 p.m. at the free event. Santa will have a special mailbox, thanks to Stayton Friends of the Library, and free door prizes will be given out to visitors.
Friends of the Family and Star Cinema will once again host a Holiday Kickoff in downtown Stayton. From 3-6 p.m., visitors can listen to live Christmas music and sample holiday treats.
The movie, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas begins at 4:15 p.m. at Star Cinema. Admission is $1 or a can of food for the local food bank.
The 53rd annual St. Mary Green Sale takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 2 and 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 3 at St. Mary Catholic School. Proceeds will benefit Regis High School and St. Mary Catholic School. The Men’s Catholic Order of Foresters will hold a breakfast on Sunday – choice of breakfast casserole or scrambled eggs, sliced ham, homemade cinnamon rolls, homemade applesauce, coffee and juice. Cost is adults, $8, Kids 5-11, $5, age 4 and under free, and family (five or more immediate members), $30.
The Santiam Hospital Auxiliary will host its annual Poinsettia Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 6-8 at the hospital. Cost is $15. Proceeds support the auxiliary’s scholarship fund. To pre-order call Char Bartosz at 503-749-2910, Wilma Shelton at 503-769-5290 or Susan Schwartz at 503-798-0489.
The Stayton High School Winter Concert takes place at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 in the Stayton High School auditorium. Performing will be the Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Girls Choir, and full Concert Choir. Holiday carols will be sung with audience participation at the end of the presentation. Refreshments and a bake sale will be offered in the foyer at intermission.
In Sublimity, Santa will hand out candy canes at the tree lighting at Early Settlers Park, following the Country Light Parade at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec 2.
The annual Candy Cane Breakfast, put on by Sublimity Rural Fire District volunteers, will take place at 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday morning with free biscuits and gravy breakfast for those who donate non-perishable goods. Santa will make an appearance, and if conditions are just right, might even arrive by the LifeFlight helicopter at 9:30 a.m. in the park across from the fire station. For other information, call 503-769-3282.
Horse-drawn holiday wagon rides at 5 p.m. for $5 per person will start off at the festivities and pick up nightly again Dec. 20 through Dec. 30. Mill Creek Carriage’s wagon pulled be draft horses will tour Sublimity’s Christmas Lights. Wagon capacity is 12 riders, and reservations are required. For reservations and ride start location, call 503-769-2090 or e-mail [email protected].
The public is welcome at the Sublimity School’s holiday program, Frosty the Snowman, at 1:30 p.m. and at 7 p.m. on Dec. 5 in the school gym.
Santa will tour Aumsville neighborhoods during the day on Saturday, Dec. 9 before showing up for an old-fashioned Christmas tree lighting and gathering from 5-6:30 p.m. in Porter-Boone Park. The tree lighting will be at 6 p.m. followed by a raffle drawing for a giant teddy bear and Christmas stocking. Must be present to win!
Also beginning at 5 p.m. will be performances by various groups of carolers at Aumsville Elementary School, Willamette Valley Baptist Church and Bethel Baptist Church.
Free refreshments – hot cocoa, cider, popcorn and more – will be available. An old-fashioned haw ride will ferry people down Main Street, to and from the park to the fire station.
The city of Lyons will host its third annual Holiday Lighting Contest, with one winner to be selected for the Mayor’s Choice Award. The award includes a prize package of an ornament trophy, movie package and “bragging rights.”
“Nominations from the public will be accepted through Dec. 15,” said Micki Valentine, city recorder. Submit nominations to [email protected].
The Lyons Garden Club Annual Christmas Potluck Luncheon takes place at noon on Dec. 14 in the Lyons Fire Department conference room. Bring a favorite hot dish, salad or dessert to share. A gift exchange of $10 or less will take place. The public is invited to participate. For more information, call John Hollensteiner at 503-508-5913.
The Santiam Canyon Community Chorus and Santiam Hearts to Arts invite community members to join in for an open house 6-8 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Canyon Art Center. A tree lighting will take place at the start of the event.
“The Chorus sings a wonderful array of holiday songs,” said Tom Peters, president of Santiam Hearts to Arts. “The Mill City international Club will provide holiday treats, and we will have a holiday sing-along.”
The Chorus will also perform at 6 pm. Dec. 9 at the Mill City Eagles Lodge and caroling at 4 p.m. at Marian Estates in Sublimity and at noon on Dec. 20 at the Capitol Rotunda.
The Stayton High School Winter Concert takes place Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. in the Stayton High School auditorium. Performing will be the Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Girls Choir, and full Concert Choir. Holiday carols will be sung with audience participation at the end of the presentation. Refreshments and a bake sale will be offered in the foyer at intermission.
Sublimity
Santa will hand out candy canes at Sublimity’s tree lighting at Early Settlers Park, following the Country Light Parade Saturday, Dec 2, 6 p.m.
The annual Candy Cane Breakfast, put on by Sublimity Rural Fire District volunteers, will take place at 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Dec. 3 with free biscuits and gravy breakfast for those who donate non-perishable goods. Santa will make an appearance. If conditions are just right, he might even arrive by the LifeFlight helicopter at 9:30 a.m. in the park across from the station.
Horse-drawn holiday wagon rides at
5 p.m. for $5 per person will start off at the festivities and pick up nightly again Dec. 20 – 30. Mill Creek Carriage’s wagon pulled by draft horses will tour Sublimity’s Christmas Lights. Wagon capacity is 12 riders, and reservations are required. For reservations and ride start location, call 503-769-2090 or e-mail [email protected].
The public is welcome at the Sublimity School’s holiday program, Frosty the Snowman, at 1:30 p.m. and at 7 p.m. on Dec. 5 in the school gym.
Aumsville
Santa will tour Aumsville neighborhoods during the day on Saturday, Dec. 9 before showing up for an old-fashioned Christmas tree lighting and gathering from 5-6:30 p.m. in Porter-Boone Park. The tree lighting will be at 6 p.m. followed by a drawing for a giant teddy bear and Christmas stocking. Also beginning at 5 p.m. will be performances by various groups of carolers at Aumsville Elementary School, Willamette Valley Baptist Church and Bethel Baptist Church.
Free refreshments – hot cocoa, cider, popcorn and more – will be available. An old-fashioned hay ride will ferry people down Main Street, to and from the park to the fire station.
Lyons
The city of Lyons will host its third annual Holiday Lighting Contest, with one winner to be selected for the Mayor’s Choice Award which includes an ornament trophy, movie package and “bragging rights.”
“Nominations from the public will be accepted through Dec. 15,” said Micki Valentine, city recorder. Submit nominations to [email protected].
The Lyons Garden Club Annual Christmas Potluck Luncheon takes place at noon on Dec. 14 in the Lyons Fire Department conference room. Bring a favorite hot dish, salad or dessert to share. A gift exchange of $10 or less will take place. The public is invited to participate. For more information, call John Hollensteiner at 503-508-5913.
Mill City
The Santiam Canyon Community Chorus and Santiam Hearts to Arts invite community members to join in for an open house Dec. 2, 6-8 p.m. at the Canyon Art Center. A tree lighting will take place at the start of the event.
“The chorus sings a wonderful array of holiday songs,” said Tom Peters, president of Santiam Hearts to Arts. “The Mill City International Club will provide holiday treats, and we will have a holiday sing-along.”
The chorus will also perform at the Mill City Eagles Lodge Dec. 9, 6 p.m. and carol Dec. 20 at noon at the Capitol Rotunda and 4 p.m. at Marian Estates in Sublimity.
For more bazaars, caroling and holiday concerts and see Datebook page 14.
