Shop, Play, Eat, Stay in Anacortes

For the Holidays 2013

Anacortes

Celebrate the Holidays

Activities and Fun

Horse Drawn Trolley Rides

Nov. 30 - Dec. 21

Noon to 4:00

Free

Holiday Express Gift Show at the Depot

Dec. 6 3-9 pm

Dec. 7 9-4

Christmas Tree Lighting

Dec. 6

6-7 pm

Chamber Building

9th & Commercial

Chamber Holiday Artwalk

Friday, Dec. 6

6-9 pm

Saturday, Dec 7

10-5

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday, Dec. 7

8-11:30 am

Fidalgo Center

$6.00 per person

Annual Holiday Parade - Lions Club

Saturday, Dec. 7

11:00 am

Downtown

The Nutcracker

Fidalgo Danceworks

Saturday, Dec. 7

7:00 pm

Sunday, Dec. 8

3:00 pm

Brodniak Hall

Winter Wonderland Park

Dec. 13 & 14

5-8 pm

Washington Park

Free

Geoffrey Castle Community Christmas Celebration
Dec. 21

4-9 pm

Port Transit Shed
Free

Holiday Boat Parade

Dec. 21

6:30 pm

Guemes Channel

Santa Sightings

Tree Lighting

Dec. 6

6-9 pm

819 Commercial Ave

Celebrate the Season

Dec. 6 & 7

Port Transit Shed

Breakfast with Santa

Dec. 7

8-11:30 am

Fidalgo Center

1701 22nd St

Holiday Parade

Lions Club

Dec. 7

11:00 am

Commercial Ave, Downtown

Winter Wonderland Park

Dec. 14 & 15

5-8 pm

Washington Park

Geoffrey Castle's Community Christmas Celebration

Dec. 21

4-9

Port Transit Shed

A Children's Christmas

In Anacortes

by Steve Berentson

ANACORTES - If it's a Norman Rockwell type of Christmas experience you desire, you absolutely want to choose Anacortes stores and shops over online or "big box" experiences.

Nowhere is this more obvious than in the world of children's gift shopping and holiday activities, where countless Christmas memories have been planted generation after generation.

Visit our website to find out more....

Anacortes Holiday activities - an always busy seaside Anacortes schedule explodes during the holiday season. Check the detailed calendar on the Chamber of Commerce website, but in the meantime, consider some of the following family friendly events:

� Free trolley rides in the downtown area each Saturday, hosted by a series of businesses (noon to 4 p.m.);

� Community Christmas tree lighting, caroling, free Santa photos and Art Walk on Friday, December 6 (starting at 6 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce Building on 9^th and Commercial Avenue);

� The Nutcracker Ballet, Fidalgo DanceWorks, December 7 & 8,AHS Brodniak Hall, 1600 20th Street; tickets available at www.brownpapertickets.com.

� Christmas Parade, Saturday, December 7, 11 a.m., Downtown Anacortes

� Celtic Christmas Celebration with electric violinist Geoffrey Castle, 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., December 21, Port of Anacortes Event Center, north end of Commercial Avenue.

Remembering Burl Ives

Wishing You a Holly Jolly Christmas

By Jan Hersey

If you had met a robust, bearded man strolling down Commercial Avenue in this season of cheer, he may very well have wished you a "Holly Jolly Christmas

evoking no doubt, a lively tune that would dance in your head for days to come.

Your well-wisher, Burl Ives, one of Anacortes's most respected residents, balladeer, and actor, retired to Anacortes in 1996. Though he resided here only until his death in 2005, he left a warm, lively, generous, and indelible impression on his adopted hometown.

Read more about Burl Ives and what he meant to our small community on the website/blog.

Holiday Events In Anacortes

Coast In... Hang out in Anacortes for the Holidays

Horse Drawn Trolley Rides

November 30^th to December 21^st,

Saturdays, 12:00 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Ride in a horse drawn trolley every Saturday from November 30^th to December 21^st throughout historic downtown. Located outside of the following businesses; November 30^th at Majestic Inn and Spa, December 7^th at Donatello Flowers and Gifts, December 14^th at Read Me A Story and Alley Cat Antiques, December 21^st and Upstage Boutique & Men's Store.

Keep the Cheer Here

November 15th to January 15th

"Keep the Cheer Here" highlights Anacortes's unique shops. Pick up a punch card at one of the participating stores and enter to win weekly prizes and a grand prize over $500.

Celebrate the Season with Anacortes School Foundation

December 6th, , 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

December 7^th, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Port Transit Shed

This event is full of holiday activities from adult and student gingerbread decorating contest, crafts and games for kids, poinsettias for sale, student provided entertainment, photos with Santa, treats and beverages. On Saturday, after the Lions Club Parade, the festivities will continue with food, crafts and more gingerbread house decorating.

Dream It - Dinner and Auction

December 7th,

5:30 p.m.

$35

Port Transit Shed

The Anacortes School Foundation's 'Dream It' Dinner will have a lively "raise the paddle auction," food, drink and dancing with A-Town Big Band.

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

December 6th

6 - 7 p.m.

819 Commercial Ave.

Brighten up your holidays with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The Town Crier rings in the festivities, holiday songs are sung by Anacortes students and Santa arrives to light the tree. Hot cocoa and cookies are available by the American Red Cross. Afterwards cuddle up with Santa for pictures.

Chamber Holiday Art Walk

December 6th

6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Spend the evening strolling through historic downtown Anacortes enjoying its galleries, shops and restaurants.

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday, Dec 7

8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Fidalgo Center

1701 22nd St.

( $6 per ticket) Buy your ticket at the Anacortes Parks and Rec Dept. - online or call 360-293-1918.

Join Santa for pancakes and merriment at the 10^th Annual Breakfast with Santa. The morning includes scrumptious pancakes, lively entertainment, children "make and take" crafts, live Christmas performances and photos with jolly old St. Nick. Get your tickets early as this event sells out.

Annual Lions Club Holiday Parade

December 7

11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Ring in the holiday with Santa, the Town Crier, marching bands, local service organizations, choirs and clubs at the Annual Lions Club Christmas Parade downtown Anacortes.

The Nutcracker

December 7 at 7 p.m.

December 8 at 3p.m.

$17 reserved seats, $12 general admission,

AHS Brodniak Hall

Tickets Online

Fidalgo DanceWorks presents the classic holiday ballet "The Nutcracker." The cast includes nearly 100 dancers and a special guest from the community as Mother Ginger.

Anacortes Senior Center Holiday Bazaar

December 14th

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

1701 22^nd St.

This holiday event offers a variety of gifts from "white elephant" treasures, gift shop items, books and baked goodies.

Winter Wonderland Park

Dec 13 & 14

5-8 p.m

Washington Park. (Park in the parking lot and follow the lighted trail).

Enjoy the season outdoors with a stroll through festively decorated Washington Park campground. Live entertainment, hot cocoa, cookies, and creative decorations are certain to put the whole family in the mood for the holidays.

Holiday Boat Parade

December 21

6:30 p.m.

Anacortes's boating community adorns their boats with holiday lights and cruises up and down the Guemes Channel for all to admire. (Subject to inclement weather)

Geoffrey Castle's Community Christmas Celebration

December 21

4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Master violinist, Geoffrey Castle, always puts on a great holiday show at this popular annual celebration. This year his guests include vocalist and instrumentalist Beth Quist, Scottish Bagpiper Don, Aerialist Elves, musicians Jonathan Sindelman, Steve Boyce, T.J. Morris and Darin Watkins, and Santa. This event is free with a suggested donation of an unwrapped toy or non-perishable food item.