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YUP! A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS – This Maple Avenue La Conner family – probably Dad, mostly – had their yard aglow before Thanksgiving. If you don't have your tree up, the music playing and the hearth ablaze, what are you waiting for? Only 21 shopping days before the Jolly Old Elf makes his way here.
News scoop: Santa's advance schedule of early La Conner visits has been leaked to the Weekly News. Parents, are these times on your calendar?
Saturday morning Santa will be posing for photos at Maple Hall when the Rotary Club of La Conner holds its annual Santa Breakfast, 8-11 a.m. Dec. 7. Breakfast is $10 and $5 children, with those under 5 eating free.
There is no charge for photos, but donations will help support the La Conner Rotary Club's literacy initiatives. In past years this was a dog-friendly photo-op.
Linger and shop at the holiday craft show organized by the Kiwanis Club of La Conner as a fundraiser. Local artists and craftspeople will offer their wares and at least the La Conner Soroptimists will have baked goods. Peruse and purchase in the bar/entrance area and upstairs. Hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
After a much-needed hot chocolate and cookie break, and the time needed to feed his reindeer, Santa returns to Gilkey Square at 5 p.m. The La Conner Chamber of Commerce has negotiated Santa's assistance to light the Town of La Conner's Christmas Tree. The fire department will most likely deliver him in their white 1941 Ford firetruck. The reindeer will be left at the fire station, where they will be munching hay and resting before taking Santa back to the North Pole. A lot of toy making remains ahead of Dec. 25.
The Chamber promises hot drinks. In years past hot chocolate was available.
And there is more in the coming weeks in the 21 shopping days till Christmas. Yards, houses and fences are bright with holiday lights and puffed-up Santas, reindeer, candy canes and all kinds of Christmas cheer. Shop windows on First Street are festooned with a variety of displays, white, green, red and other bright and dull colors – and more lights – with snow, trees, icicles and whatnot. Go see for yourself.
Santa will be at the La Conner Swinomish Library Tuesday, Dec. 10, 5:30 p.m., also for photos, of course. He will be gifting a book to each child.
Next week there will be music galore. Mark your calendars to avoid conflicts and missing out on a single note. The Skagit Community Band's annual Christmas concert in Maple Hall 7 p.m. Friday the 13th is free – donations accepted – and – singular. There is not an Anacortes concert. While it promises an evening of festive and exciting music and the added pleasure of the A'Town Big Band, alas, it conflicts with the Shelter Bay Chorus's holiday concert at the Shelter Bay clubhouse, also at 7 p.m. The chorus performs again at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Donation: $10 suggested.
The Skagit Valley Chorale performs "Heralding Christmas 2024" at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon. The Skagit Symphony's winter concert, "Air," is Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. at McIntyre Hall. Tickets for both: mcintyrehall.org; 360-416-7727.
Neither last and certainly not least, is the Swinomish Yacht Club's Holiday Lighted Boat Parade at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. The theme is "Classic Characters: 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' and 'Frozen.'"
And, in the spirit of giving to those in need, La Conner Kiwanis and Scott Price have a Giving Tree at the Edward Jones office, 708 Morris Street. The gifts deadline is Dec. 16. Details, call 360-466-2933.
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