This weekend may well be the official kick off to the holiday season.
The curtain’s already gone up for a number of shows. The 1.2 million Lights of Christmas are sparkling at Warm Beach in Stanwood. The Nutcracker will be dancing his crowned head off in Arlington and beyond.
And here are three more holiday events — one happens today — to add to your go-see-do list.
Holiday on the Bay &Lighted Boat Parade
This annual event begins at 1 p.m. today at the Port of Everett’s new Waterfront Center, 1205 Craftsman Way, Everett.
Visitors should take W. Marine View Drive to the newly named Port Gardner Way (formerly 13th Street), make a left and head to the new Fisherman’s Tribute Plaza.
The event includes lighted boats, holiday music, a Santa visit and something new: gingerbread houses.
Families can register ahead of time and be given their own gingerbread house kit to build. They can also watch the movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Hot cocoa is provided.
Gingerbread house-building goes from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in the Waterfront Center. The official deadline has passed for registration, but Port of Everett public affairs administrator Lisa Lefeber said there may still be some room for families who register today. Go to www.portof everett.com.
“With our new facility we have space available to offer something inside, so that turned this into a pretty popular event,” Lefeber said.
Other activities on the agenda include:
•Holiday piano music at 3 p.m.; and members of the Everett High School choir sing from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Christmas tree lighting, the Lighted Boat Parade and Santa’s arrival begin at 4 p.m. at Fisherman’s Plaza.
This year all the area yacht clubs — Everett, Mukilteo, Dagmar’s and Milltown Sailing Association — are lighting their boats on the same day, Lefeber said.
•Public viewing and voting on the lighted boats begins about 7 p.m.
For more information call the port at 425-259-3164 or go to www.portofeverett.com.
All the Holiday on the Bay activities are free but Lefeber encourages people to bring toys to be donated to Christmas House.
Tour of Lights
New this year in Marysville are public tours of 22 holiday light displays dotting the west side of Cedarcrest Golf Course.
Visitors to this new holiday experience can either take a tractor-driven hayride or climb aboard the five-car Marysville Rotary Club train for a 20-minute ride to view the displays.
Tours will not be held today because of the Marrysville for the Holidays Electric Lights Parade, but you can catch a tour beginning Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 30. Tours will not be offered Dec. 24.
The displays feature a variety of critters and themes, including penguins, golfers, reindeer, a rocket ship and soccer-playing gingerbread people.
“I’m sure they will give people an ooh and ah,” Marysville parks director Jim Ballew said. “It’s fun.”
As part of the Tour of Lights, Cedarcrest’s Bleachers restaurant is offering s’mores on the deck. Diners can toast their own marshmallows over a bonfire.
Live music and entertainment, including visits from Santa, are planned throughout the length of the event.
Join the tour at Cedarcrest Golf Course, 6810 84th St. NE, Marysville. It’s is free but suggested donations are $3 for a child, $5 for an adult and $20 for families.
For more information call Marysville Parks and Recreation at 360-363-8400 go to marysvillewa.gov.
Wintertide Celebration
The key to a successful holiday event is offering something live that you can’t see on television.
That’s why there won’t be any holiday movies at this year’s free Wintertide Celebration, which begins at 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett.
Instead, the entertainment will include holiday arts and crafts, a performance by the U.S. Navy Band’s Five Star Brass Quintet and a visit from Santa, said Carol Thomas, Everett’s cultural arts manager.
Cookies and hot cocoa will be provided.
The holiday arts and crafts will be lead by creative arts volunteer manager Raniere (who goes by only a first name) from Imagine Children’s Museum and Erica Weir, Village Theatre’s Pied Piper manager.
This is the third year for Wintertide and all activities will be done inside the performing arts center because of construction of a new outdoor plaza.
Arts and crafts will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Anderson Room of the Everett Performing Arts Center.
The Navy brass quintet performs from 3:30 to 4 p.m. in the upper lobby.
Santa is scheduled to drop by at 4 p.m.
The Navy Band Northwest performs a free holiday concert from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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