Choices, choices …
For holiday festivities Saturday, should one head north to Poulsbo’s Scandinavian Julefest and Kingston’s “Country Christmas,” or south to Port Orchard’s Festival of Chimes & Lights? Or should one attend all three and cram in a triple helping of holiday fun?
Chimes and Lights takes place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday in Port Orchard. Note that Bay Street will be closed during this time. The theme this year is “A Hometown Christmas.” Events range from the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for the Arthritis Foundation, which kicks off at 11 a.m. at City Hall, to a pet parade that begins at the Kitsap Bank drive-thru at 4:45 p.m. For a full schedule of events and a map, visit the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce website.
Julefest is a longstanding celebration of Poulsbo’s Nordic heritage. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Sons of Norway will have arts crafts, traditional pea soup, folk dancing and singing. The location is 18891 Front Street. As the early dusk falls, revelers will gather by a bonfire on the waterfront to await the arrival of the Lucia Bride, accompanied by Vikings, of course. For information, visit the Sons of Norway website.
Kingston’s “Country Christmas” takes place Saturday, with Santa’s workshop up and running at 2 p.m. Arts and crafts for kids will be available at the Kingston Cove Yacht Club. At 4:30 p.m. at Mike Wallace Park, bands from Kingston Middle School and Kingston High School will perform. Bonfires will burn, and Santa will arrive by firetruck to flip the switch on the port’s botanical light display at 5 p.m. For information, call the Kingston Chamber of Commerce at 360-297-3813.
