While Centralia residents have already kicked off the Christmas season in Lewis County — having held Centralia’s Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at George Washington Park on Nov. 28 — other communities throughout Lewis County have their own tree-lighting ceremonies and festive holiday events scheduled this weekend.
Whether you’re in eastern or southern Lewis County, or near the Twin Cities and missed Centralia’s tree lighting last weekend, tree lightings, parades and more are scheduled for both Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6.
East Lewis County tree lightings and parades
In East Lewis County, the cities of Mossyrock, Morton and Mineral all have Christmas festivities planned to show off their Christmas spirit.
In Mossyrock, the tree-lighting ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 5, with festivities in the Mossyrock Community Center ongoing from 5 to 8 p.m., according to Mossyrock Mayor Randall Sasser.
The tree lighting itself will be held outside of Mossyrock City Hall, located at 231 E. State St. next to the community center.
Hosted in partnership with the Mossyrock Area Action League, nine themed, decorated Christmas trees will also be available in a silent auction in the community center once again, along with warm drinks and sweet treats.
Last year, proceeds from the Christmas tree auctions benefited Dylan Patrick’s Mossyrock School District music program. This year, proceeds benefit the SOMMA (Salkum-Onalaska-Mossyrock Ministerial Association) Food Bank.
Then, just down U.S. Highway 12 in the neighboring community of Morton, the Morton Christmas parade is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6.
The parade starts at the Second Street Chevron in Morton and ends at Gus Backstrom City Park, located at 750 Main Ave. in Morton, according to parade organizer Kristen Lilley.
Following the parade’s conclusion, the Morton Christmas tree-lighting ceremony will be held in the park. For more information, email Lilley at kristenlilley@msn.com.
For east county residents who miss both of these tree lightings this weekend, the Mineral Lions Club is hosting a tree-lighting ceremony the next weekend.
Beginning at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, Mineral’s Christmas tree lighting will be held outside of the old American Legion Storm King Post 171 building, located at 108 Front St. in Mineral.
Along with the tree lighting at Mineral’s Olde Town Christmas, Santa will be visiting for photos, decorating awards will be given out, and goodies will be available along with the opportunity to participate in caroling, according to a Mineral Lake Lions Club Facebook post.
For more information, message the Mineral Lake Lions Club on the club’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MineralLakeLions/.
Toledo Santa Quad Parade, Vader Christmas parade, tree lighting and bazaar
In South Lewis County, the City of Vader is hosting a number of events to ring in the Christmas season on Saturday, Dec. 6.
Festivities begin at the Vader Assembly of God, located at 302 Sixth St. in Vader, with special a Christmas shop for youth, where from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., kids with a Vader address can select a free, wrapped gift for up to two caregivers.
Also at the church from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., local vendors will be set up for a holiday bazaar for those looking to take care of Christmas shopping by getting artisan crafts and gifts for their loved ones. A bake sale, with all goods available by donation, will also begin at 2 p.m., and food vendors will be set up, as well.
Additionally, along with Santa visiting for photos, the Grinch will be there to help bring more holiday cheer.
Finishing off the day’s Christmas festivities is the Vader Christmas parade starting at 7 p.m., featuring music and caroling from local school bands and choirs — with the parade ending at the town’s Christmas tree for the lighting ceremony.
For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page at https://tinyurl.com/4a5dy6se or call Vader City Hall at 360-295-3222.
Also on Dec. 6 in the neighboring South Lewis County community of Toledo, the seventh annual Toledo Santa Quad Parade begins at 5 p.m., starting at the Toledo Middle School, located at 155 N. Fifth St., and ending at Kemp Olson Memorial Park with hot chocolate, candy canes, caroling and more for parade attendees.
Those interested in being in the parade must sign up ahead of time and sign a liability waiver, available online at https://tinyurl.com/3uuwrkpx. Those on riding mowers must have the decks lifted.
Once it begins, participants will drive their decorated and light-up quads, trikes, mowers or golf carts through the South Lewis County community.
Chehalis Christmas tree lighting and 75th annual Santa Parade are this weekend
Over in downtown Chehalis, immediately following Santa’s appearance in the 75th annual Santa Parade on Saturday, Dec. 6, starting at 11 a.m. in downtown Chehalis, parade attendees are invited to the Lewis County Historical Museum for the fourth annual Chehalis Christmas tree-lighting ceremony, according to an Experience Chehalis Facebook post.
Free to attend, those at the tree lighting can enjoy caroling and more at the museum, located at 599 NW Front St. in downtown Chehalis. For more information, message Experience Chehalis on its Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ExperienceChehalis.
The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce is organizing the Santa Parade, with this year’s theme being “A Country Christmas,” as previously reported by The Chronicle.
