It’s time for Christmas parades, caroling and more

Published 8:13 pm Thursday, December 2, 2010

MARYSVILLE — Bring on the vehicles, the floats and groups of walkers wearing their holiday flair. The city’s Electric Lights Parade is back.

The parade was canceled as part of last year’s annual Merrysville for the Holidays winter festival because of budget concerns. Funds were committed for this year’s event, and police and city parks employees followed schedules this week to avoid working overtime, said parks director Jim Ballew.

“The parade really was a tough burden on parks and police personnel,” Ballew said. “We’re trying not to do it with any overtime. The police have reallocated shifts, and we hope to use existing personnel in parks who were given a day off this week to work it this year.”

The free winter festival is planned for Saturday at Comeford Park at 514 Delta Ave. The event is scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. with an outdoor arts and crafts bazaar. A community bonfire, crafts for the kids, vendor booths and other holiday activities are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.

The Electric Lights Parade is planned for 6:30 p.m. along State Avenue from Marysville Municipal Court to Comeford Park. Commander Adam Welter of the USS Ingraham will be the parade’s grand marshal.

The parade will last no more than an hour, Ballew said.

“People line the street from 10th Street down to Fourth Street,” he said. “It’s just a great family event. Marysville really knows how to kick off the season pretty well.”

The Marysville-Pilchuck High School Jazz Band is set to perform holiday music following the lighting of the city’s water tower at 7 p.m.

Volunteers will also be at the festival to accept unwrapped gifts and food donations for the Marysville Community Food Bank and Toy Store.

A shuttle bus from Marysville Middle School to the festival site will be provided from 3 to 8:30 p.m. courtesy of Grandview Retirement Communities. For more information about Merrysville for the Holidays call Marysville Parks and Recreation at 360-363-8400.

More holiday events in north Snohomish County:

Arlington

Saturday is a big day in Arlington, where the annual Hometown Holidays kick off with the Santa Parade at noon and the Christmas tree lighting at 5 p.m. in Legion Park.

Teams participating in the Arlington Relay for Life plan to sell baked goods and crafts, and offer activities for kids from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Presidents Elementary School, 505 E. Third St. Also during the day, a snowman scavenger hunt, a find-the-pickle game and a concert by Victorian-era singers is planned in the downtown area.

The parade at noon along Olympic Avenue brings Santa Claus to town. Afterward, Santa will be stationed at the Legion Park gazebo for visits and photos. Parents need to bring their own cameras. Lifeway Church plans to provide hot chocolate and music.

There are free wagon rides after the parade at City Hall and family portraits are being taken at the old Co-Op building for a donation to the food bank.

As the crowd gathers for the 5 p.m. tree lighting with Mayor Margaret Larson, the North County Home School choir and band are set to perform. And the Arlington Girl Scouts plan to make s’mores for the crowd.

Hometown Holidays events continue on Dec. 11 and 18. More information is at www.arlington wa.org.

Also on Saturday, the Arlington Fire Department begins its annual Santa Run and Food Drive. The first neighborhood to be visited is the 4100 block of 166th St.

Santa will ride a decorated fire truck each evening to visit kids throughout Arlington and pick up donations to the Arlington Community Food Bank. Last year the effort raised $3,800 and 6,590 pounds of food.

Information about the Santa Run neighborhood visitation schedule is at www.santarun.net.

Granite Falls

Winterfest 2010 is planned for Sunday in downtown Granite Falls. The annual event from 1 to 6 p.m. features caroling, costume characters, a hot chocolate contest and craft vendors around downtown.

Photos with Santa are also planned at GenCare Granite Falls at 302 N. Alder Ave. and gift wrapping is set at the Granite Falls Tourism Information Center at 110 E. Stanley St.

This year’s event also includes a breakfast for children from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Timberline Cafe at 116 E. Stanley St.

Lake Stevens

The 24th annual Dickens Fair is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Cavelero Mid High School.

More than 100 vendors, many dressed in Dickensian clothes, will sell their hand-crafted wares while children from Lake Stevens Schools perform and sing carols at the school located at 8220 24th St. SE.

Admission to the fair is a can of food or monetary donation for the Lake Stevens Food Bank. The Lake Stevens Fire Department is set to help with parking and the collection of food dontation. The Lake Stevens School District’s Community Education program hosts the fair.

The annual Winterfest celebration is planned to begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the downtown Merchant Center courtyard off Main Street across from City Hall. A tree lighting ceremony, the arrival of Santa coming into town on a fire truck, and arts and crafts are all scheduled to be part of the free event, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Lake Stevens.

Lake Stevens Firefighters are planning to help host the tables and collect extra tips at the Lake Stevens Ixtapa restaurant on Saturday.

The funds raised at the annual event, which runs 5 to 9 p.m., will go toward purchasing Christmas presents for children in Lake Stevens.

Over the past six years, Lake Stevens Fire has raised more than $25,000 and helped provide Christmas gifts for more than 260 children.

A fire engine and medic unit will be available in the Ixtapa parking lot at 303 91st Ave NE. B201 to collect donations of unwrapped children’s gifts throughout the event.

Stanwood

An Old-Fashioned Christmas with Santa for Stanwood and Camano Island children is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center, 27108 102nd Ave. NW, Stanwood.

Billy Jennings plans to take free photos of kids with Santa Claus. Music, treats, crafts and tours of the historic Pearson House and the Stanwood Area Historical Society’s museum are planned. The event also is sponsored by the Stanwood Chamber of Commerce.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, children age 12 and younger can participate in the Santa Dash from the Candies Kids shop at 8620 271st. NW to the Stanwood Police Station. Kids are encouraged to wear their Santa hats.

A Christmas tree lighting ceremony is set for 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the west end of downtown. The Stanwood Elementary School Choir and Gerry Andal plan to sing. A second tree lighting is planned for 5:15 p.m. in the east end of the city with Andal and the Cedarhome Elementary School Choir. More information is at www.shop downtownstanwood.com.

Warm Beach

The Lights of Christmas runs 5 to 10 p.m. today through Sunday, Dec. 9 through 12, Dec. 16 through 23 and Dec. 26 through 29, at Warm Beach Camp, 20800 Marine Drive. The event features lights, treats, live music, storytelling and theater performances, a live Nativity scene, petting farm, pony and train rides. Tickets are $8 to $14, free ages 3 and younger. More information at www.warmbeachlights.com.