Dayton Kicks Off Christmas

DAYTON - Don't let the turkey coma take over after Thanksgiving or you'll miss all of the wintry, holiday fun in Dayton during its annual Christmas Kick-Off Friday and Saturday.

"It boosts businesses and gets people in the holiday spirit," said Claudia Nysoe, the executive director of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce.

Business owners and community members are putting on the final holiday touches this week to prepare for the big post-Turkey Day festival.

Vicky Beckmeyer, owner of Crofts, said her business under owners Ralph and Dorothy started the event as a simple open house for the business the day after Thanksgiving. They would put paper over the windows before Black Friday and unveil a new window display that would draw in customers, she said.

"It's just growing every year," Beckmeyer said.

The event now includes all businesses on Historic Main Street, and they offer sales and holiday fun to keep people in Dayton on Black Friday, rather than losing customers to Walla Walla and Tri Cities.

"It's a fun time for everyone," she said.

This weekend, there will be mule-drawn hay rides, a free movie showing of "A Christmas Story" at the Liberty Theater, historic tours of the Boldman House, craft projects for kids, a live nativity scene behind Dingle's, pictures with Santa and lighted home tours.

The biggest events are the lighted holiday parade Friday at 6 p.m. on Main Street and the fireworks show at about 7 p.m. that day.

There will be art shows at Dumas Station, Palus Museum and the Wenaha Gallery. A Christmas gift market will be held at the Historic Depot with homemade candy and other goods.

Live music will be available for listening including Jazzy Pop Soloist,Tammy Weppler at Weinhard Café, Modern Folk Duet, The Lentil Bros., at Mace Mead Works, Easy Listening in the Weinhard Hotel Lobby, Rock-a-Billy, Rubberneck, at Woody's Bar & Grill, a Live Band, the Eagles and Classic Rock, Money for Nothing, at Woody's Bar & Grill.

There is also a live performance of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" at the Liberty Theater.

Beckmeyer said there will be holiday characters including Frosty the Snowman walking around town to greet kids.

The tour of lighted homes is a new addition this year and is also expected to be a hit. Columbia County Transportation buses will provide rides for $1.50 a person, $1 for seniors, to tour the best lighted homes in the city. Riders will also get to vote for the best-decorated house.

There will be a light display on the caboose near the Historic Depot and children will be able to enter a contest to name the Stationmaster statue and win some prize money.

And of course there will be plenty of good things to eat and drink.

Outside of Elk Drug will be a new large community Christmas tree to be decorated by local children as well.

With all of these fun events planned, it's easy to see why Dayton is "The Town That Still Believes."

"It's been a tradition for so long," Nysoe said. "People just get into the spirit."