Polk County News
2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 2, 2015
Caroling, tree lighting, Santa usher in December
By Jolene Guzman
and Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
POLK COUNTY — Ah,
December, when the air
turns crisp, the turkey left-
overs are in the freezer, and
our thoughts officially turn
to Christmas.
To kick off the spirit, each
town will host its Christmas
celebrations, beginning Friday.
DALLAS
What says Christmas
more than hot cocoa, carol-
ing, cookies and Santa
Claus? Winterfest, held each
year at the Polk County
Courthouse lawn in down-
town Dallas on the first Fri-
day in December has all of
those and more.
After having to cancel the
event in 2013 due to a little
too much winter — snowy
and icy conditions — Winter-
fest, 2014 had a large crowd of
at least 1,700 people.
“Three hundred and fifty
kids saw Santa last year and
the weather was perfect,”
said Chelsea Metcalfe, the
executive director of the
Dallas Area Visitors Center,
which is hosting Friday’s fes-
tivities.
Winterfest will officially
kick off at 5 p.m. with ven-
dors for Christmas shopping
and hot cocoa and cookies
while supplies last. But be-
fore that, several food truck
vendors will be downtown
starting at 11 a.m.
Metcalfe said the city had
to close off parking for the
event early in the day, so the
food vendors might as well
open for the lunch hour.
“We are hoping people
will come down for lunch
and come back for dinner,”
Metcalfe said.
People will have plenty of
choices for both, as Black
Rock BBQ, JT’s Food Truck,
El Pique, The Boondocks,
and Sweet Dreams will be
open until 7 p.m.
Not to be left out, the Fox
Theatre is getting in on the
fun, showing “A Christmas
Story,” at 4 p.m. After all, it’s
not Christmas without hear-
ing “You’ll shoot your eye
out!” at least once.
You can see Ralphie and
friends’ shenanigans for free
with a canned food donation.
The main event — Santa
lighting the tree on the
courthouse lawn and visit-
ing with all the good little
boys and girls — will happen
a bit earlier than years past.
The Jolly Old Elf will arrive at
about 6:15 p.m.
“He will stay until every-
one is seen,” Metcalfe said.
FALLS CITY
Now in its fourth year,
Falls City’s Christmas tree
lighting event kicks off the
Christmas season with some
old-fashioned holiday spirit
on Saturday.
This year, the tree, donat-
ed by Weyerhaeuser and
lighted by PP&L, will be in
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer file
Kids eagerly await Santa Claus at Dallas Winterfest.
Deck the Halls
EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer file
Lighted floats cruise down Main Street in Independence.
the lot between Mountain
Gospel Fellowship Church
and Frink’s General Store,
319 N. Main St., Falls City.
The gathering begins at
6:30 p.m. with music, home-
made treats, hot chocolate
and coffee.
At 7 p.m. the tree will be lit.
Organizer Tony Drill said
the tradition started in an ef-
fort to bring more people
downtown during the winter
season. It’s working. Last
year, the tree lighting drew
at least 150 people.
“It’s a community event to
bring everybody out,” Drill
said. “When winter comes
around, it gets cold. This
gives them a reason to come
and hang out.”
INDEPENDENCE
For the last five years,
Santa Claus has come to
visit children in Independ-
ence via Portland & Western
Railroad.
Last year, free presents
and treats were given to
1,134 kids who came to the
Independence Cinema to sit
on Santa’s lap, who has used
the same antique chair,
courtesy of the Heritage Mu-
seum, each year. This year,
organizers expect closer to
1,500 children.
“We’re giving to the kids
who need it the most,” said
Cynthia Jaramillo, organizer
of the annual event.
Too many families in In-
dependence are below the
poverty line, she said.
“I couldn’t fathom the
idea that there were an esti-
mated 3,000 children out
there who weren’t going to
have a Christmas,” Jaramillo
said. And that’s when the
Santa train was born.
Kids and families patient-
ly wait in line for their turn
listening to Christmas music
by Miki’s WildOne’s Karaoke,
while people from Grove
Church’s coffee house dis-
pense hot chocolate from a
backpack. Candy canes and
popcorn will be served in
line this year, too.
The event takes place
from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday
at Independence Cinema,
which will host movie deals
during that time.
At 5 p.m., the Parade of
Lights will commence from
Central High School, down to
Main Street and finish at the
Independence Civic Center,
where treats will be served
and songs may be sung.
This year’s parade theme
is “A Hometown Holiday,”
said Robin Puccetti, Inde-
pendence Public Library di-
rector. The Independence
Downtown Association, or-
ganizer of the parade, is still
accepting floats.
The trick to making a
float? It’s all about the lights,
Puccetti said.
MONMOUTH
On the other side of the S
Curves, Western Oregon
University is the center of at-
tention with celebrations
starting Friday at 6 p.m.
Things kick off with a hol-
DALLAS
What: Winterfest
When: Friday 5 to 8 p.m.
Where: Polk County Courthouse lawn, 850 Main St., Dal-
las.
Of note: Food trucks will be open at 11 a.m. for lunch
and will serve for dinner until 7 p.m.
For more information: 503-623-2564.
FALLS CITY
What: Christmas tree lighting
When: Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Lot between Mountain Gospel Fellowship
Church and Frink’s General Store, 319 N. Main St., Falls City.
Of note: Homemade treats and hot chocolate and cof-
fee will served to take the chill out of the air.
INDEPENDENCE
What: Independence Santa Train and Parade of Lights.
When: 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday for Santa; 5 p.m. for pa-
rade.
Where: Santa will arrive by train at Independence Cine-
ma; the parade begins near Central High and ends at the
Civic Center.
Of note: Independence Cinema will provide special
prices for movies between 1 and 3 p.m., as well as give out
popcorn for those in line to see Santa.
For more information: www.independencedown-
town.org or on Facebook, “IDA parade of lights.”
MONMOUTH
What: Western Oregon University’s 48th annual Holiday
Tree Lighting.
When: The light parade begins at 6 p.m. on Friday.
Where: Western Oregon University, Monmouth.
Of note: A combined choir from Talmadge Middle
School, Independence and Monmouth elementary schools
will perform after the tree lighting in the Paciic Room.
For more information: Or to enter the cookie bakeof,
John Wilkins, 503-838-8229 or wilkinsj@wou.edu.
iday parade from Mon-
mouth Public Library to
WOU’s campus. This year’s
theme is “Shining Brightly.”
New WOU President Rex
Fuller will speak after the
parade, followed by the
grand lighting of the tree.
After the winners of the
coloring and essay contests,
the writer of the winning
essay will push the plunger
that lights the 128-year-old
Sequoia tree near the Wern-
er University Center.
Inside Werner, Christmas
comes alive with music, a
cookie bakeoff, crafts for fam-
ilies — sponsored by the
WOU athletics department —
a Christmas tree contest and,
of course, pictures with Santa
Claus himself.
“Over at Gentle House,
w e’ l l b e h a v i n g Wi n e,
Warmth and Music,” said
John Wilkins, coordinator
for Campus Life and Activi-
ties. “The vibe is for those
folks seeking something dif-
ferent than what Santa and
arts and crafts brings.”
Christmas trees in the
contest will be donated to
local families in need
through Toys for Tots,
Wilkins noted.
The cookie bakeoff is
open to community submis-
sions, but be aware that if
you want to be a guest
judge, the samples go fast.
There is no official end time
to the 48th annual Holiday
Tree Lighting, Wilkins said.
“Last year we went until
10, but there’s a little bit of
flex time with that,” he said.
“Sometimes it depends on
Santa. We really try to work
with Santa and be respectful
of his time.”