Christmas Kicks off in Dayton on Nov. 24 and 25

DAYTON-The City of Dayton is known as "The Town that Still Believes" and to celebrate, the Dayton Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the 11th annual Christmas Kickoff, which will take place on Fri., Nov. 24, and on Sat., Nov.25.

From early Friday morning, until the end of the day on Saturday, the town will come alive with fun-filled activities for everyone, young and old.

This year Santa's workshop will be at 250 E. Main St. from 1 - 5:30 .pm. on Friday, and from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday. The Gingerbread Gallery will be at the same location.

For the first time, Santa's reindeer, Dasher and Dancer, will be greeting visitors at N. 1st. St., on Friday, from 1 - 5 p.m.

Izzy the camel is making an appearance in this year's live nativity. Look for Izzy and other Biblical characters behind Dingle's Hardware Store on Main St. on both days from 4 - 5 p.m.

Let there be mules, too! Weather permitting, Krugers' mules will stage at the Depot and tour throughout town.

Free showings of The NeverEnding Story are planned at the Liberty Theater for Friday at 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and at 7:30 p.m..

Quilts & More and Snapdragon Floral & Gifts are sponsoring a scavenger hunt that will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. To participate, purchase boards at the table located on N. 1st St. Boards are $3 each or two for $5. Match the symbols on the board with symbols on retail vendors' windows along Main Street and enter a random drawing for three prizes. The first prize is one of two gift baskets. The second prize winner will receive the other gift basket, and one lucky person will get a child's bike, said Vicky Beckmeyer, owner of Snapdragon Floral & Gifts.

The Backroads Club is sponsoring the Ugly Christmas Sweater 5k Dash on Friday. There will be cash prizes for the ugliest sweater in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place categories for adults and for youth. All participants will receive $5 in Dayton Dollars.

The cost to enter is $15 and preregistration is through the Dayton Chamber of Commerce website or at: facebook.com/backroads club. Contestants can also register beginning at 10 a.m. at the county courthouse prior to the 11 a.m. race.

Event coordinator Rachel Hutchens said the non-timed race is just for fun and it is wheelchair and stroller friendly.

Musical events are also planned on both days at the N. 1st St. stage, as well as music in the lobby of the Weinhard Hotel on Friday, and a sing-along with Heidi Gnos-Kuban and Diane Copeland in the lobby of the hotel directly after the fireworks display.

The Walla Walla Choral Society, sponsored by Village Shoppes, will be caroling downtown on Friday.

Stop by the Wenaha Gallery on Friday from 3 - 6 p.m. for an artists' reception featuring; Laura Gale, LuAnn Ostergaard, Michael Rastovich, and Joseph Rastovich, all from Kennewick.

Oil painter Laura Gable, who is showing her work in a month-long Art Event from Nov.20 through Dec.16, is known for her colorful florals and expressive plein air landscapes.

The Talented Trio consisting of LuAnn Ostergaard (abstract photography), Michael Rastovich (illustration/animation), and Joseph Rastovich (metal sculpture) is a family of artists with a month-long Art Event running from Nov. 6 through Dec.2.

In addition to featuring the four Kennewick artists in the special afternoon show, Wenaha Gallery celebrates Christmas Kick-off with artisan desserts by framer/chef Savonnah Henderson; as well as an unveiling of gift-sized, oil painting landscapes by Dayton artist Steve Henderson. The next day, Saturday, November 25, the gallery offers cake all day as part of its 24th anniversary/birthday celebration. The gallery will be open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on both days.

Combines, tractors, and Santa's Sleigh are just some of the entries in the 6th Annual Lighted Parade which will take place along Main St., at 6 p.m. on Friday.

Immediately following the parade event-goers can proceed to Elk Drug for the Christmas tree-lighting ceremony, carols, and singing by solo artist Makenna Barron, then find a good vantage point for viewing the fireworks display at 7 p.m.

Let the judging begin! Bus riders have the opportunity to judge the best of Dayton's homes entered in the annual Tour of Lights. A bus will depart for the tour on Friday, from Elk Drug, 15 minutes after the fireworks. Reserve a spot on the bus by calling Columbia County Public Transportation at 382-1647.

Woody's Bar & Grill, at 214 E. Main St., is showing the movie Blue Christmas at 7 p.m. on Friday and Elvis Impersonator Roy Dodd will entertain guests, at 8 p.m. There is a $5 cover charge. Tickets are available at the door. Seating is limited, so get there early, said Proprietor Kurt Anderson.

The Dayton Historic Depot, at 222 E. Commercial Ave., will be open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on both days and will feature the art of Vicki Zoller, To Hargrave, Martha Mason and Robbie Zimmerman, as well as coffee from Rey's Roast and other scrumptious offerings.

The gift shop will be fully stocked with Christmas décor and ornaments, low-tech toys, games and books as well as some utilitarian kitchen items, according to Museum Director Tamara Fritze.

The Dayton FFA will have Christmas wreaths for sale at the Depot as well.

Christmas Kickoff is a great time to celebrate the annual Boldman Christmas. The museum, located at 410 N. 1st St., will be open from 1 - 4 p.m. on both days. The house will be decorated with vintage decorations from the Boldman family's own holiday decorations. Guests will receive a booklet of Boldman family recipes and children will receive a nose flute, which was one of the Boldman girls' favorite musical instruments, said museum manager Sylvia Beuhler.

Additionally, local pianists Lois Whysong and Roger Tumbocon will play Christmas music from 1 - 3 p.m. during the annual Boldman Christmas celebration.

The Smith Hollow School House, at 113 N. Front St., will be open on Friday from 1 - 7 p.m. and the Palus Museum, at 426 E. Main St., will be open from 1 - 7 p.m. on Friday. This is the last day, in 2017, the museums will be open. Cookies and cider will be served at both locations, according to the Blue Mountain Heritage Society.

The Touchet Valley Arts Council's fall musical production, The King and I will have an evening performance on Wednesday and two performances on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, or online at Libertytheater.org.

And there will be shopping and food.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church, at 112 S. 1st St., will hold their annual Christmas Bazaar in the Parish Hall on Saturday, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Retail shops will open around 8:30 or 9:00 in the morning on both days and eateries will stay open later than usual.

Vicky Beckmeyer and her daughter Cara Watts are inviting children to stop by Snapdragon Floral & Gifts at 207 E. Main St. to have their picture taken with Papa Smurf, Frosty, and the Grinch. Children can also write letters to Santa and post them at the store, she said.

Beckmeyer, who is instrumental in developing and organizing Christmas Kickoff each year, would like to thank all who participate in Christmas Kickoff, especially: Broughton Land Company for purchasing the Christmas tree at Elk Drug, Doug Hines with Pacific Power and Light Company, Dayton Elementary students for decorating the tree, the Downtown Development Task Force for their purchase of the snowflakes that adorn the Main Street lamp posts, and the Dayton Chamber of Commerce and Pacific Power and Light Company for the fireworks, which promise to be outstanding this year, she said.