The holiday season is upon us and the Willamette Valley is ready. There are many tree lighting events and festivities, with some that will be open all month.
On Friday Nov. 30, Salem’s 23rd Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, in Riverfront Park, will include a tree lighting, live reindeer, hot chocolate, cookies, the Grant Community School’s Grizzly Youth Choir and a Santa Claus visit at 6 p.m.
On Dec. 2, at the Downtown Plaza of Woodburn, the holiday festivities include a tree lighting, caroling, holiday bazaar, activities for kids, hot chocolate and a visit from Santa from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Albany’s Downtown Twice Around Christmas Parade will be on December 2. It includes a parade, Horse Drawn Wagon, and Santa riding on Albany’s Antique Fire Truck, followed by a tree lighting. The parade starts at 5 p.m.
The Keizer holiday festivities include a tree lighting, carols by the Keizer Community Band, hot chocolate and cider, and a visit from Santa from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This festival will be on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at Walery Plaza, on the corner of Cherry Avenue and River Road.
Aumsville’s 2nd Annual “Christmas in the Park” includes a tree lighting, refreshments, a raffle, caroling, a photo area, hay wagon rides and a visit from Santa and Elsa from “Frozen” from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This will take place on Saturday, Dec. 8 at Porter-Boone Park. Donations of canned food will also be accepted.
All of these local activities have free entrances.
