The Columbia Press
November 27, 2020
3
Post-turkey weekend activities kick off the holidays
State tops in
food production Events can be enjoyed virtually,
Oregon may not be a major
producer of turkeys, but you
can thank the state’s farm-
ers for other staples found
throughout the holidays.
Oregon is No. 1 in the nation
for Dungeness crab -- $68
million worth! We’re No. 2
for pears and onions, No. 3
for cranberries, and No. 4 for
green peas and potatoes.
If you raise a toast during
the holidays, remember that
Oregon hops are used to pro-
duce many of the region’s
craft beers. The state ranks
No. 3 in the United States for
growing hops.
The Oregon wine industry
has surged to 1,297 vineyards
in the past decade with 908
wineries. Wine grapes are the
state’s No. 7 agricultural com-
modity, valued at $238 mil-
lion, according to the Oregon
Farm Bureau.
“Thanksgiving is all about
making time to reflect on the
many things in life for which
we’re grateful,” said Anne
Marie Moss, the bureau’s
communications director. “In
conversations around the din-
ner table, (we) urge readers to
remember the farm and ranch
families who grew the food.”
The bureau announced a
#CelebrateAg promotion this
month to highlight the state’s
contributions to the nation’s
food supply.
Other interesting facts:
Oregon is No. 1 in the nation
for Christmas tree produc-
tion. Tree farms sold more
than $104 million in trees last
year, according to the Oregon
Department of Agriculture.
We’re also No. 1 nationwide
for blackberries, hazelnuts,
peppermint, rhubarb, grass
seed, and florist azaleas. A
hundred percent of the na-
tion’s hazelnut market comes
from Oregon, according to the
National Agricultural Statistics
Service. Close behind is crim-
son clover and orchardgrass
seeds at 98 percent.
by foot, or by automobile
The Columbia Press
The weekend after Thanks-
giving is the official kick-off
for many Christmas activi-
ties.
There’s no question the
holidays will look and feel
different during these days
of COVID-19. Yet there still
are things that you and your
household can do.
Distanced Santa visits
Downtown Astoria is all lit
up for the holidays.
The Christmas tree on Ma-
rine Drive at 17th Street was
put up and lit Nov. 21, al-
though there was no ceremo-
ny this year due to the pan-
demic.
Santa will greet visitors
from noon to 3 p.m. every
Saturday through Christmas
at the Liberty Theatre’s ki-
osk.
Children 5 and older are
required to wear masks and
should bring written wish
lists.
Tour of lights
Seaside Chamber of Com-
merce is having a contest to
see which homes and busi-
nesses have the best decora-
tions.
The contest is open in Sea-
side and Gearhart and runs
from Nov. 30 to Dec. 18.
Residents are urged to take
a self-guided tour of partici-
pating spots between 6 and
9:30 p.m. each night and
then vote for their favorites.
The chamber will have a
map of participating loca-
tions and a ballot.
Cannon Beach in Lights
Haystack Holidays Can-
non Beach will turn on all
the sparkly lights downtown
between 5 and 10 p.m. daily
through New Year’s.
Participating businesses are
competing for best window
display and visitors can vote
for their favorites between
Dec. 3 and 20. The winning
business will be announced
Dec. 21.
Crab Pot Drive-By
The Port of Ilwaco is the
site of a drive-by Christmas
parade between 5 and 6 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5.
Participants are encouraged
to decorate their vehicles and
drive by for the annual crab
pot tree lighting.
They’ll be able to tune in
and listen to the ceremony
and carols on their vehicle’s
radio.
For those who’d prefer to
watch it virtually, the event
will be shown live on the Dis-
cover Ilwaco Facebook page.
The event is hosted by Dis-
cover Ilwaco and the Ilwaco
Merchants Association.
Art of the Ilwaco crab pot event by Pacific County artist Don
Nisbett graces the Discover Ilwaco Facebook page.
Deck the Walls
Trails End Art Associa-
tion in Gearhart kicks off its
monthlong Deck the Walls
show of original art and gifts
from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday,
Dec. 5.
The nonprofit association
supports local artists. Their
gallery is at 656 A St.
The Christmas shopping season has begun!
Holiday concert
Columbia River Symphony
has invited several musical
groups and talented musi-
cians for its annual holiday
concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec.
11.
The concert is free and can
be viewed online live or after
the event at columbiariver-
symphony.org.
Those who will appear in-
clude the Astoria Tuba Quar-
tet, David Drury, North Coast
Choral and North Oregon
Coast Symphony.
Columbia River Symphony
is a nonprofit performing arts
group led by Conductor Cory
Pederson.
Place your ads for Dec. 4, 11, or 18