SIUSLAW NEWS | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019 | 7A
HOLIDAYS from page 1A
“Thanksgiving
and
Christmas are really close
together this year. So, for the
traditionalists who say you
can’t have Christmas until
after Thanksgiving, we had
to work around that,” said
Chamber Event Coordina-
tor Mitzi Hathaway.
The solution is to have the
new Cocoa, Cookie & Cider
Trail and the opening week-
end of Sea Lion on a Shelf
on Saturday, Nov. 30, and
move the Florence Holiday
Festival to the following Sat-
urday, Dec. 7, from 3:30 to
6 p.m.
With the new Cocoa,
Cookie & Cider Trail, peo-
ple are encouraged to “shop
small” on Small Business
Saturday — the day after the
popular day-after-Thanks-
Readers Choice Voted #1 Realtor
giving shopping day called
Black Friday.
“‘Shop Small’ is big,” Ha-
thaway said. “On Saturday,
we need everyone to come
out. It’s so important to keep
the money in our town. …
By supporting our business-
es, that money stays here.”
The special holiday snack
trail will encourage people
to shop local businesses and
restaurants while getting
treats in Old Town, uptown,
off Rhododendron Drive
and all the way south to
Darlings Marina. This trail
will run during each busi-
ness’s regular hours, and the
chamber will provide a map.
“That’s the great thing
about the chamber,” Hatha-
way noted. “Being a cham-
ber business means expo-
sure. We advertise, we do
these events and we do them
for the community — but
we also do them to get our
businesses known.”
Starting today is the Sea
Lion on a Shelf, sponsored
HOLIDAY
Arts
FESTIVAL
Saturday, December 7, 2019 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday, December 8, 2019 11 am - 4 pm
An eclectic showcase and shopping experience
for unique works of art and fine craftsmanship
Free Admission
Florence Events Center • 715 Quince Street
(10% of Artists’ Sales during the event
will benefit the Florence Art Center)
For more event information call 541-902-1933
by Sea Lion Caves,
another new event.
With 35 locations,
this passport will
guide people on a
free adventure to
spot “Sammy the Sea
Lion” through Dec.
20. Once a person
finds at least 15 of the
possible 35 stuffed
sea lions hidden at
various
locations,
they are entered into
a drawing to win
$100, $50 or $25 at
one of the participat-
Florence Area Chamber of Commerce is getting ready for
ing businesses.
the holidays in Old Town and everywhere in Florence.
Hathaway said this
brings a Florence flavor to season and more to come.
has invited seniors from lo-
the popular “Elf on a Shelf ”
“With Sea Lion on a Shelf, cal retirement homes to at-
book and photo challenge.
the Cocoa, Cookie & Ci- tend.
“Sammy has already made der Trail and the tree that
One new aspect Hatha-
his way around social me- the chamber is decorating, way is bringing to the Holi-
dia,” she said. “We’ve had we’re really reaching out to day Festival this year will be
calls last week with peo- the kids in this community,” the spirit of giving. People
ple already wanting to find Hathaway said. “We want to will be encouraged to bring
Sammy.”
have the magic of the holi- one or two food donations
Passports are available day season.”
of the Florence Food Share’s
now at Florence Visitor’s
She said the tree would be most-needed items to col-
Center, 290 Highway 101; up by the end of Thanksgiv- lection spots included in the
Siuslaw News, 148 Maple ing Day and would encom- festivities.
St.; and BeauxArts Fine Art pass many of the season’s
“We’re hoping to fill in
Materials and Gallery, 2285 holidays, from Yule, Winter gaps left after the Pounding,
Highway 101.
Solstice, Christmas, Hanuk- after Thanksgiving, when
“We want people to use kah, Kwanzaa and the New all that food is distributed,”
the hashtag ‘SeaLionOn- Year.
Hathaway said. “We hope
AShelf,’ ‘ShopSmallFlorence’
The following Saturday the food share can take in-
and ‘CocoaCookie&Cider- is the traditional Florence ventory and let us know ex-
Trail,’” Hathaway said. “The Holiday Festival and Tree actly what they need. That’s
community is excited, the Lighting from 3:30 to 7 p.m. where the chamber and this
merchants are excited and The community is invited event are going to come in
we’re excited for all these to Historic Old Town Flor- — let’s fill those gaps, be it
events.”
ence for the annual festival for formula, peanut butter
Also visible around town to enjoy live entertainment, or whatever they need to get
starting this week are the warm beverages, great hol- through the entire holiday
chamber’s custom snow- iday season sales, hayrides, season and beyond.”
flakes, which were refur- caroling and the Mayor’s
Hathaway has lived in
bished earlier this year and Tree Lighting Celebration at Florence since March and
now sport a fresh powder 5:30 p.m.
been with the chamber since
coating and lights. These
“Santa has agreed to be the fall. She has worked on
were installed on Monday here and he’s coming in on many events since starting,
thanks to the efforts of Flor- the fire truck,” Hathaway which have been good prac-
ence Public Works and Cen- said. “And we moved the tice for juggling three festive
tral Lincoln PUD.
tree lighting to be a little ear- events at once.
Additional decorations lier. This gives people time
“We are really gearing our
from both the chamber and to stay for the tree lighting events right now around
the City of Florence will go and go up to the Florence the magic of the holiday
up once the weather calms. Events Center for Holly Jol- season through the eyes of
“There are two trees in ly Follies. You could park in kids,” Hathaway said. “It’s all
Old Town, the tradition- the middle and go to both — about having fun and bring-
al tree, that the mayor will make a night of it.”
ing families together. And
light on Dec. 7, and the ga-
Florence Events Center, none of our events cost. The
zebo tree. And I get to deco- 715 Quince St., will also tree lighting is free, the hay-
rate the gazebo tree,” Hatha- be hosting the free Empty rides are free, seeing Santa
way said. “This tree is for the Bowls fundraiser for Flor- is free, the Sea Lion on a
kids. It’s a whimsical, Santa ence Food Share from Dec. Shelf is free. Everything is
Claus, candy land, Santa’s 6 to 8 and Florence Regional free. The only thing we ask
workshop type of tree. … Arts Alliances’ Holiday Arts is that when you go to do
For those walking by on Bay Festival on Dec. 7 and 8. your shopping, shop local-
Street, it’s going to glimmer More information is avail- ly whenever you can. That’s
and it’s going to shine.”
able at eventcenter.org.
why the chamber is here,
For the 2019 holiday sea-
The Florence Holiday and that’s why we do what
son, the Florence cham- Festival will include music we do.”
ber purchased a com- and entertainment, accom-
For more information,
mercial-grade tree, new panied by a portable sound call the Florence Visitor’s
ornaments and LED lights system, and is inclusive to Center at 541-997-3128 or
that will last through this people of all ages. Hathaway visit florencechamber.com.
Find gift s for everyone
on your list!
19th ANNUAL ‘TREE OF GIVING’
Begins Monday, December 2nd.
Stop by for a coffee or hot chocolate and cookies.
Select an ornament from the tree representing
gift requests for specific necessities by a
high school student in our community.
Return gifts to us by Dec. 18,
to be distributed before Christmas break.
ccb#55030
1780 Kingwood St. • 541-997-8526
Christmas
Gift List
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there’s a home décor gift idea
perfect for you at Artefacts.
When all else fails we off er
gift cards for that person who
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choice this holiday season.
Find us at 1255 Bay Street
right next to Books ‘n Bears.
541-991-3322
www.fl orenceartefacts.com
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