Vancouver’s annual layer cake of a Christmas kickoff will continue to bring live music, twinkling lights, choo-choo train rides, a charitable tree raffle, a holiday market and Santa Claus himself to downtown Vancouver, starting Nov. 24.
Actually, the charitable trees were set up at Divine Consign, 904 Main St., early this month, and you can stop by anytime to peruse their handmade themes: Origami, elves, jewelry, oceans and more. The trees will be raffled off during a reception set for 6 p.m. Dec. 15 at Divine Consign; local charities benefitting from the raffle include the Arc of Southwest Washington, Children’s Center, the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes, Friends of Hospice and the Humane Society for Southwest Washington. Raffle tickets are $5 each.
Meanwhile, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m., the traditional festivities in and around Esther Short Park begin. The Prune Hill Elementary School choir leads off, followed by the combined Fruit Valley and Chinook Elementary School Choirs. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive ready to take gift requests and pose for photographs. Food vendors will be on hand to keep your tummy filled and your spirit bright. And, the Loki train operated by Hazel Dell veterans organization 40 et 8 will be back to give rides around the park. (The train will be back for more rounds from approximately 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 25.)
At 6 p.m. Nov. 24, things will really brighten up as Santa lights the 10,000 colored bulbs on Vancouver’s towering Christmas tree. That’s really something to see, and it’s followed by something equally splendid to hear: at 6:20 p.m., across the street at the Hilton Vancouver Washington, the Vancouver Pops Orchestra will entertain the crowd with holiday favorites. It’s a free performance, but donations are requested. This whole Friday night festival is sponsored by the Vancouver Rotary Foundation.