Wednesday, November 22, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
The evolution of a ceremony
By Jim Cornelius
Editor
The community tree-light-
ing that traditionally kicks
off the Christmas season in
Sisters has grown over the
past 14 years, but the theme
remains simple: gather locals
and visitors on Thanksgiving
weekend, sing a few carols
and light up a community
tree.
The event is sponsored by
the Sisters Area Chamber of
Commerce.
The first community
tree-lighting was held at the
brand-new Barclay Park on
Cascade Avenue in 2003,
the year the pocket-park was
dedicated.
“We purchased a tree,
I think it was only about
20 feet tall,” said Chamber
Events Coordinator Jeri
Buckmann. “We had some
carolers from a local church
group, the mayor spoke and
we had a blessing for the tree.
Three Sisters Lions Club sold
hot drinks and popcorn.”
In subsequent years,
D e s c h u t e s L a n d Tr u s t
donated a 40-foot tree each
year from its Metolius
Preserve, which was erected
in the park by the City
of Sisters Public Works
Department.
When Fir Street Park
was complete in 2014, the
Chamber moved the event
there. The new park has a
permanent stage, a fire pit
built by Ponderosa Forge
and Ironworks of Sisters,
and a tall live tree to serve
as the community bea-
con. The park is also more
expansive, allowing more
people to comfortably
attend.
Over the years, a vari-
ety of singing groups have
sung carols at the event.
Buckmann told The Nugget
that there isn’t a formal pro-
cess for determining who
sings.
This year, a bit of dis-
cord and disharmony devel-
oped over that issue. Lola
Knox, who directs a Sisters
bell choir and the Sisters
Children’s Choir expressed
disappointment that sing-
ing groups from Bend have
been tapped to perform at the
Sisters ceremony for the past
two years.
“Every year I have
approached the Sisters
Chamber of Commerce to
have one of my groups per-
form, I have been greeted
with negativity and dis-
respect,” Knox told The
Nugget. “The bell choir did
get to perform once many
years ago and the crowd
loved us, but we have been
turned down ever since.
Same with the Children’s
Choir. My choir, myself
and my choir parents are
most disappointed to have
been turned down again this
year.”
entertainment & EVENTS
Buckmann told The
Nugget that she didn’t actu-
ally turn anybody down; that
this year’s group had already
been selected when she spoke
with Knox during the set-
up for the Harvest Faire in
October.
Buckmann told The
Nugget that she has tried to
book the Sisters High School
Choir, but it is hard to get
them together on that holiday
weekend.
“Since we were unable to
get the High School Choir, it
was a struggle to find any-
one,” she said. “The last few
years we have come in con-
tact with groups in Central
Oregon that include Sisters,
Redmond, and Bend to come
and participate.”
Knox and Irene Liden,
former director of the High
Desert Chorale in Sisters,
would like to see the local
choirs given the opportu-
nity to share in their home-
town holiday kick-off. They
agreed that perhaps it would
avoid misunderstandings and
make finding singers easier if
there was some sort of pro-
cess to apply for the slot, like
there is for entries in local
parades.
And that desire to par-
ticipate reflects the impor-
tance of a gathering that has
become dear to many folks
across Sisters Country.
Starts Friday
Fri., Nov. 24 – Thurs., Nov. 30
Civil War Party!
Fri-Sun 1:15, 4:00, 6:45
Mon-Thurs 4:00, 6:45
Your team scores: FREE Jello Shots!
Wonder (PG)
7’ Jumbotron • 4pm kickoff
Saturday • Nov. 2 5
Fri-Sun 1:45, 4:30, 7:00
Mon-Thurs 4:30, 7:00
THE HWY. 97 BAND
Murder on the
Orient Express
FREE CLASSIC ROCK!
9pm to 1am with
175 N. Larch St.
1
t .
541-549-6114
5
4 1 5 49
9 6 114
4
hardtailsoregon.com
142 E. Main Ave. Three
Sisters Lions Club Holiday
Faire 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 7th
Hardtails Bar & Grill
annual event and fundraiser
Karaoke Night! 9 p.m.
with handmade items from
Every Wednesday, no cover!
local vendors. Check out the
For info: 541-549-6114 or go
new location next to The Hair
online to hardtailsoregon.com. Cache! Email: ckunc@aol.com.
Sisters Saloon Texas Hold
Cork Cellars Live Music!
’Em Tournament 7 p.m.
7 to 9 p.m. No cover! For
Every Wednesday! For
additional information call
additional information call
541-549-2675 or go online to
541-549-7427 or go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com.
sisterssaloon.net.
WED...NOV. 22
NOV. 23
Nov 25 / Sa / 8 PM
The Weather
Machine
The 5-piece found its roots
in the Pacifi c Northwest’s
unique folk aesthetic, but
has developed a
hard-hitting, theatrical
rock performance.
(PG-13)
Fri-Sun 2:15, 4:45, 7:15
Mon-Thurs 4:45, 7:15
Justice League
(PG-13)
Fri-Sun 1:30, 4:15, 7:00
Mon-Thurs 4:15, 7:00
Nov 30 / Th / 8 PM
Zepparella
Led Zeppelin tribute band!
Dec 9 / Sa / 8 PM
Movie times and titles are
bsite
subject to change. Visit we
n.
atio
rm
or call for latest info
WWW.SISTERS
MOVIEHOUSE.COM
541-549-8800
Hillstomp!
Portland junkbox blues duo
brings memorable perform-
ances that tap into a magic
that cannot be rehearsed.
PUB OPENS 1 HR PRIOR TO SHOWS
BelfryEvents.com
541-815-9122
SUN...NOV. 26
142 E. Main Ave. Three
Happy Thanksgiving! Sisters Lions Club Holiday
FRI..NOV. 24
Fir Street Park Annual
Christmas Tree Lighting
5:30 p.m. Join the community
for the singing of Christmas
carols and see the tree light
up! For info call 541-549-0251
or go to sisterscountry.com.
142 E. Main Ave. Three
Sisters Lions Club Holiday
Faire 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Handmade items from local
vendors, 7th annual event!
Info, email ckunc@aol.com.
Hardtails Bar & Grill
Karaoke Night! 9 p.m.
Every Friday, no cover! For
additional information call
541-549-6114 or go online to
hardtailsoregon.com.
Hood Avenue Art Artists’
Reception for the “Small
Wonders” Show plus Live
Music with Jim Cornelius
4 to 7 p.m. Enjoy refreshments
and music! For more info
call 541-719-1800 or go to
hoodavenueart.com.
Downtown Sisters 4th
Friday Art Stroll 4 to 7 p.m.
Galleries and shops feature
live entertainment and
refreshments! For info go to
sistersartsassociation.org.
SAT...NOV. 25
Coco (PG)
11
Hood Avenue Sisters
Christmas Parade 2 p.m.
Following the annual parade,
kids are invited to meet with
Santa at the Chamber building
at Main & Spruce! For more
information 541-549-0251 or
go to sisterscountry.com.
Paulina Springs Books
25th Birthday Bash & Live
Music with Jim Cornelius
& Friends 12 to 2 p.m. Come
in and enjoy refreshments,
discounts, raffl e prizes and
more! For info: 541-549-0866
or go to paulinasprings.com.
Hardtails Bar & Grill Civil
War Party & Live Music
with The HWY. 97 Band
3:30 p.m. party start time!
(4 p.m. game kickoff). Watch
on the new 7x7-ft. Jumbotron!
Wear team colors; every time
your team scores, it’s FREE
Jello shots for you! And from
9 p.m. to 1 a.m. it’s classic rock
with The HWY. 97 Band. All
FREE! hardtailsoregon.com.
The Belfry Live Music with
The Weather Machine
8 p.m. $10 online at
bendticket.com. For additional
information call 541-815-9122
or go to belfryevents.com.
Tollgate Recreation
Center “Our Kind of
Christmas” Artists
Vendor Show 10 a.m.
Door prizes, drawings, hot
cider & munchies! Featuring
local artists’ work. For more
information call 541-480-6361.
Faire 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Handmade items from local
vendors are featured in this
7th annual fundraising event!
For additional information
email ckunc@aol.com.
MON...NOV. 27
142 E. Main Ave. Three
Sisters Lions Club Holiday
Faire 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Handmade items from local
vendors! Info: ckunc@aol.com.
TUES...NOV. 28
The Belfry “Frontiers in
Science” with Conservation
Photographer Don Miller
7 p.m. (6 p.m. social hour).
Sponsored by the Sisters
Science Club and Friends
of the Sisters Library. Miller
presents “Pachyderm Intrigue
and Elephant Lessons.” $5 at
the door (teachers, students
and science club donors are
free). sistersscienceclub.org.
142 E. Main Ave. Three
Sisters Lions Club Holiday
Faire 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Handmade items from local
vendors! Info: ckunc@aol.com.
Sisters Saloon Trivia Night
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up is at
6:15 p.m. Free, every Tuesday!
For additional information
call 541-549-7427 or go to
sisterssaloon.net.
WED...NOV. 29
Hardtails Bar & Grill
Karaoke Night! 9 p.m. Every
Wednesday, no cover! For
additional information call
541-549-6114 or go online to
hardtailsoregon.com.
Sisters Saloon Texas Hold
’Em Tournament 7 p.m.
Every Wednesday! For
additional information call
541-549-7427 or go to
sisterssaloon.net.
142 E. Main Ave. Three
Sisters Lions Club Holiday
Faire 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Handmade items from local
vendors! For more information
email ckunc@aol.com.
THURS...NOV. 30
The Belfry Live Music with
Zepparella 8 to 11 p.m. $20
at the door. For additional
information call 541-815-9122
or go to belfryevents.com.
Preston Thompson Guitars
Shop Concert with Chris
Luquette, Nick Dumas, &
Connor Hutteball 6 p.m.
$10 at the door. For additional
information call 541-588-6211
or go to pktguitars.com.
Sisters Saloon Karaoke
Night! 9 p.m. Every Thursday,
no cover! For additional
information call 541-549-7427
or go to sisterssaloon.net.
142 E. Main Ave. Three
Sisters Lions Club Holiday
Listings free to advertisers. Faire 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Submit by 5 p.m. Fridays to Handmade items from local
teresa@nuggetnews.com
vendors! Info: ckunc@aol.com.