The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG-The 33rd annual Hometown Christmas is upon us. Of course this means a weekend of activities along Main Street, including Santa's first official appearance of the season.

Sponsoring businesses, along with many volunteers, are busy hanging garland and lights. Waitsburg Elementary students will take turns hanging their ornaments Friday, reaching the highest branches with the assistance of far-reaching Pacific Power employee Doug Hinds.

Saturday

Festivities begin at 9 a.m. in Town Hall, where local businesses and vendors will display wares for early bird holiday shoppers.

Kids will want to be sure and stop in at 10 a.m. to see Big Top the Clown and all his antics.

At 1 p.m. there will be a children's cookie decorating workshop in Town Hall, followed by Pups & Ponies characters from 2-4 p.m.

Meanwhile at 222 Main Street, the storefront adjacent to Ten Ton Coffee will feature a 4-H display and host an ornament design workshop.

Be sure to make it back to Town Hall at 3 p.m. to see the Walla Walla Choral Society take the stage singing holiday classics.

Mr. Claus makes his debut from 4-6 p.m. at 222 Main Street. He'll be accepting wishes from children on the Nice List, so be good for goodness sake.

Sunday, December 2

Vendors will return to Town Hall from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The Town Hall stage will begin rocking at 1 p.m.

Entertainment includes:

1 p.m. Hagen Taylor, acoustic guitar

1:05 p.m. Alyssa Green, singing "Noel"

1:10 p.m. Sarah Hong, singing "Silver Bells"

1:15 p.m. Marion Duncan, singing "Hark the Herald"

1:20 p.m., Lucy singing "Santa Claus"

1:30 the Whippersnappers

1:45 p.m. Bluegrass Kids

2:00 p.m. KC River

2:30 p.m. Switchgrass Delta

At 3 p.m., the FFA will announce the Christmas Tree winner, followed by a drawing for the door prizes donated by local businesses.

Santa will return to 10 Ton Press on Sunday for pictures and visits from 1-4 p.m.

Festivities take to the street at 5 p.m. for the annual lighted parade, featuring floats and animals of all kinds.

Revelers are invited back to Town Hall after the parade to warm their bellies at the annual Bill Thompson Memorial Chili Feed. The all-you-can-eat meal, complete with all the fixings, costs $5 per person or $20 per family.

Hometown Christmas sponsors include: Waitsburg Commercial Club, Banner Bank, the City of Waitsburg, Ten Ton Coffee, the Whoop em Up Hollow Café, and the Times.