Christmas Calendar

Ho Ho Ho! Thought you might like a list of holiday happenings, all wrapped up in one tidy package. These activities are listed in our daily calendar, but we’ll also keep them here to help spread the merry-making. And, we’ll update this list as we hear about new events.

SEEKING SANTA

Looking for the big guy in the red suit? Here are a couple places where you can find him nearly every day.

PICTURES WITH SANTA AT VALLEY MALL. Today’s Santa hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Photos available for purchase. Valley Mall, 2529 Main St., Union Gap; shopatvalleymall.net.
NOTE: Santa breaks from 2-2:30 p.m. daily, subject to change.
Nov. 27-28: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Nov. 29: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Nov. 30: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Dec. 1-5: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Dec. 6: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Dec. 7-11: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Dec. 12: 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Dec. 13: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Dec. 14-19: 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Dec. 20: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Dec. 21-23: 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Dec. 24: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SANTA AT OUT ON A WHIM. Daily story times (Monday-Saturday) at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Santa will be in the store Dec. 1-23. Out On A Whim Children’s Bookstore and Imagination Station, 108 S. Third Ave., Yakima. 576-3635. outonawhimbooks.com

CHRISTMAS EVENT CALENDAR

Friday, Nov. 27
SANTA ARRIVES AT VALLEY MALL. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 27. Help welcome Santa to Valley Mall with a special celebration featuring live music and balloons. Pictures with Santa available for purchase, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Valley Mall, 2529 Main St., Union Gap; shopatvalleymall.net.

Saturday, Nov. 28
TOY TRAIN CHRISTMAS. 10-4 p.m. Nov. 28, Dec. 5, 12-13, 19-20. Take a short caboose ride to see Santa and Mrs. Claus. Depot decorated with Christmas trees and toy trains, cocoa and cookies. Cost: $6 adults, $4 ages 12 and under. Photographs with Santa available for purchase. Northern Pacific Rail and Steam Museum, 10 S. Asotin Ave., Toppenish; 509-865-1911.

Sunday, Nov. 29
PROSSER FAMILY CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL. 4-6 p.m. Nov. 29. Caroling, fire pits and marshmallows, cocoa, photo opportunities with Santa. Tree lighting ceremony at dark. Bring a camera, hot dogs and roasting sticks. Depot Square, downtown Prosser; 509-786-3177.

Saturday, Dec. 5
TIN ORNAMENT WORKSHOP. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 5. Parents and children can drop in to make tin ornaments and other holiday crafts. All ages welcome. Cost: $5. Red Art Gallery, 30 N. Third St., Yakima. 469-2766.

TOY TRAIN CHRISTMAS. 10-4 p.m. See Nov. 28.

YAKIMA VALLEY MUSEUM HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE. Dec. 5. Enjoy free admission and holiday festivities at the museum’s annual open house. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kids can design Christmas cards in the Children’s Underground from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Performances in the Neon Garden: Yakima Youth Symphony at noon; Yakima Children’s Choir at 1 p.m.; Melody Lane Singers at 2 p.m. Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Drive, Yakima; yakimavalleymuseum.org; 248-0747.

SUNNYSIDE LIGHTED FARM IMPLEMENT PARADE. 6 p.m. Dec. 5. The Northwest’s premier lighted parade since 1989, this event in downtown Sunnyside boasts more than 50 farm implements, vehicles and floats covered with decorative lights. The parade starts on Warehouse Avenue, turns south on Sixth Street, then east on Edison Avenue to Yakima Valley Highway. Sunnyside Chamber: 509-837-5939.

WHISPERS OF CHRISTMAS. 6-8 p.m. Dec. 5. Join together for a free community holiday party with games, music, cookies, coffee and cocoa. Santa will be available for free photos. Selah Civic Center, 216 S. First St., 698-7302.

Sunday, Dec. 6
SANTA PHOTOS AT RUSSELL’S NURSERY. 1-3 p.m. Dec. 6, 13, 20. Get a candy cane from Santa and enter the coloring contest. Cost: $5 per photo; all money will be donated to Children’s Wishes and Dreams. Russell’s Nursery, 6710 Tieton Drive, Yakima.

A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS. 1-4 p.m. Dec. 6. Enjoy the signs, sounds and smells of a Victorian home during the holiday season at this Yakima Valley Museum living history exhibit. Free admission. Christmas tree candle lighting at 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., and 3:15 p.m. Quilt raffle drawing at 3 p.m. H.M. Gilbert Homeplace, 2109 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima; yakimavalleymuseum.org; 248-0747.

10TH ANNUAL DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY LIGHT PARADE. 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6. This annual spectacle of lights begins at Sixth Avenue and travels east down Yakima Avenue to Millennium Plaza (across from the Capitol Theatre on Third Street), where the lighting of the community Christmas tree will follow. The Stone Church Choir will sing carols and Santa Claus will pass out candy canes at the Plaza. For a Better Tomorrow: 576-3606.

Friday, Dec. 11
18TH ANNUAL LUMINARIA. 6-9 p.m. Dec. 11-12. Free family event features a mile-long candlelit walk through the Arboretum’s wintery landscape and an 80-foot lighted Norwegian Spruce Christmas tree. Warm up with hot cider and children’s activities in the Jewett Interpretive Center. Yakima Area Arboretum, 1401 Arboretum Drive, Yakima; off Nob Hill Boulevard just east of the I-82 interchange; ahtrees.org; 248-7337.

Saturday, Dec. 12
CHRISTMAS CARD WORKSHOP. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 12. Parents and children can drop in to make pop-up Christmas cards. All ages welcome. Cost: $5. Red Art Gallery, 30 N. Third St., Yakima. 469-2766.

TOY TRAIN CHRISTMAS. 10-4 p.m. See Nov. 28.

SANTA TROLLEY. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 12. Ride the trolley with Santa and receive a candy cane. Refreshments available in the powerhouse. Fare: $3. Yakima Valley Trolleys, corner of S. Third Avenue and W. Pine Street, Yakima; yakimavalleytrolleys.org; 249-5962.

“THE NUTCRACKER.” Performances at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12. Soak up the holiday spirit at this kid-friendly classic, performed by the Eugene Ballet Company. At the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, a girl awakes into an adventurous dream world in which her toy nutcracker comes to life and battles the invading Mouse King. Warm up with cocoa, caroling and a visit from Santa and live reindeer in front of the theater, beginning 90 minutes before show time. Tickets are $10-$40; students and seniors receive a $5 discount. Capitol Theatre, 19 S. Third St., Yakima; capitoltheatre.org; 853-2787.

18TH ANNUAL LUMINARIA. 6-9 p.m. See Dec. 11.

Sunday, Dec. 13
TOY TRAIN CHRISTMAS. 10-4 p.m. See Nov. 28.

SANTA PHOTOS AT RUSSELL’S NURSERY. 1-3 p.m. See Dec. 6.

Tuesday, Dec. 15
TEEN & ADULT CRAFT NIGHT. 7 p.m. Dec. 15. Teens and adults can make stars out of gift ribbon. Bring 3/4” paper ribbon. Meet in the Youth Center across the alley from City Hall, 102 W. Ahtanum Road, Union Gap. Sponsored by the Union Gap Library, 452-4252.

Saturday, Dec. 19
TOY TRAIN CHRISTMAS. 10-4 p.m. See Nov. 28.

COOKIE CONTEST. 2 p.m. Dec. 19. Children are invited to bring a dozen handmade, hand-decorated cookies. Participants will taste and vote for their favorite. Winner gets a book. Out On A Whim Children’s Bookstore and Imagination Station, 108 S. Third Ave., Yakima; outonawhimbooks.com; 576-3635.

SNOW GAMES. 3 p.m. Dec. 19. Children are invited to enjoy a snowy story, crafts and games. Free. Downtown Yakima Library, 102 N. Third St., Yakima; 452-8541.

Sunday, Dec. 20
TOY TRAIN CHRISTMAS. 10-4 p.m. See Nov. 28.

SANTA PHOTOS AT RUSSELL’S NURSERY. 1-3 p.m. See Dec. 6.

Monday, Dec. 21
SNOW GAMES. 2:30 p.m. Dec. 21. Children are invited to enjoy a snowy story, crafts and games. Free. Union Gap Library, 3104 S. First St., Union Gap; 452-4252.