Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Dayton 's Christmas Kickoff as it was in 2019. The event is back on for this yearand will include the mule rides as long as the weather permits.
DAYTON-Sleep off all of the Thanksgiving turkey, and head to Downtown Dayon on Friday, November 26, and Saturday, November 27 for the annual Christmas Kickoff festivities.
Belinda Larsen, Executive Director of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, said she started getting inquiries as early as June, from vendors and other interested parties, as to whether they would be hosting a full weekend. Last year, the event went virtual amidst COVID-19 closures and restrictions, and was significantly smaller.
2021 is going to make up for it, though, with two days packed full of holiday fun.
Friday, November 26 kicks off with the Christmas Tree Festival, starting at 10:00 a.m. During the Festival's first year in 2019, it raised more than $2,000 for the Giving Tree and the Dayton Foodbank. Chaired by Misty Yost, the Festival hopes to exceed their first year's raised funds, and give even more back to the community. The Trees will be lit up again on Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.
After lighting up the trees, stop by the Christmas Bazaar, at 112 S. 1st Street. The Bazaar will feature some of the area's favorite crafts, and plenty of one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts for those hard-to-shop-for family and friends.
If that's not enough for the 10:00 hour, pop over to 410 N. 1st Street and check out the Christmas Market at the Historic Dayton Depot. This event will end at 6:00 p.m, and will reopen on Saturday, November 27. The Bazaar will reopen on Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
Starting at 11:00 a.m, runners, walkers, joggers and support crews will gather at the Columbia County Courthouse for the Ugly Christmas Sweater Dash. Cash prizes are available, so pull out that light-up top and dust off the running shoes!
Live reindeer will be in town, from 12 p.m- 4 p.m, and Mule Drawn Hayrides will kick off at 1:00 p.m on Saturday and Sunday. The rides are dependent on the weather. Doug and Margie Krueger will be providing the rides free of charge.
A Boldman House Christmas will be open both days, from 1 p.m.- 4 p.m., at 410 N. 1st Street.
Warm up at the Weinhard Hotel on Friday for wine tasting and hot cocoa from 2 p.m- 6 p.m. Visit the famous Izzy the Camel behind Dingles, from 3 p.m- 7 p.m.
The Lighted Parade, which is always a fan favorite, will kick off at 6:00 p.m on Main Street, with the Tree Lighting Ceremony (Elk Drug, 176 Main) and Fireworks (Columbia County Courthouse) to follow. Parade entries are still being accepted, and entry forms can be found online at the Chamber's website, http://www.historicdayton.com. Pacific Power was the major sponsor for the annual fireworks show, and other sponsors include Inland Cellular, Columbia County Health System, Seneca Foods Corporation, Walla Walla Toyota, and City Lumber and Coal.
The Liberty Theater will be showing Clifford the Big Red Dog on Friday, at 7:30 p.m and Saturday, at 2:00 p.m. Be sure to visit their website for seating reservations, https://libertytheater.org/index.html.
Don't forget to stop by the Blue Mountain Station on Friday and Saturday for Christmas specials, including barrel tastings, limited-time holiday sales, and special chocolates from Mama Monacelli's.
A complete schedule can be found on the Chamber's website.
"Your wish for an old-fashioned Christmas is our dream come true from the "town that still believes"', said Larsen.
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