Ho Ho Ho and away we go! First three days in December Kick off the Oakridge-Westfir holiday season

By JANET HANSON/for The Herald  —  Ho Ho Ho and away we go! First three days in December kick off the Oakridge-Westfir holiday season in high gear

There’s no place like home for the holidays. Bundle up and join your friends and neighbors doing everything from having breakfast with Santa, shopping, buying a Christmas tree helping to save TV Butte, to eating some more, and watching as the longest covered bridge in Oregon is lit to celebrate the season.

Tradition is the most important element in celebrating the holidays. As you take in the long list of events December 1 and 2, you’ll see we have a penchant for conventional and long-established events that happen year after year. The fun begins at noon on Friday and just keeps going into Sunday evening.

FRIDAY EVENTS

·       Holiday Market at the Museum December 1, 12-7 PM and December 2, 9AM-4 PM. Stop by Oakridge Museum at 48238 E 1st St. and shop for ornaments, stocking stuffers, plants and unique gifts. The museum will also participate in the First Friday Art Walk from 5-7 PM.

·       First Friday Art Walk 5-7 PM with featured artists at the following galleries and businesses:

             – The Corner

            – Oakridge Museum

           – Mane Street Coffee featuring the art of Rebel Wilder, Jill Mardin, Sunny Zylstra, Barbara Counsil Burney, Kathy Ariosa, and Patty                   Culwell

          – The Flying Dog featuring the work of Karin Thompson

          – The Uptown

          – AA Salvage & Resale

         – Cascade Art Works featuring a demonstration of flint knapping by Paul Smith, live music by Ben Olson

         – Sacred Spiral featuring the work of Jill Mardin and Kathy Ariosa

        – 3 Legged Crane Pub and Brewhouse featuring the work of Robert Woodson

·       If you want to support a great cause for Oakridge, buy your tree at Cascade Art Works. Trees are $35 to $50 and are for sale during Cascade Art Works Business hours 12-5 PM Thursday through Sunday until the trees are gone. All proceeds go toward TV Butte Legal Defense Fund.

·       Speaking of trees, the Tree Lighting uptown Oakridge is Friday December 1 at 4:30 PM,  48309 East 1^st. There is no formal ceremony, but the tree will be lit from Dec. 1 at 4:30 every evening till midnight throughout the holiday season.

·       At 7 PM stop in 3 Legged Crane Pub and Brewhouse to hear solo guitarist, Eric Leadbetter. According to the 3 Legged Crane post, “his music is very unique and original, with ghostly echoes of the golden ages to a vast collection of classic vinyl.”

SATURDAY EVENTS

·       Breakfast with Santa 8 AM til 12 PM at the Oakridge Fire Department 47592 Highway 58. Children 3 to 12 eat FREE, and Adults are $5. Pancakes, eggs, sausage, and hot cocoa. Photos with Santa. All proceeds go to the Oakridge Volunteer Association.

·       Sugar Plum Festival, the granddaddy of all holiday events. Oakridge Elementary School Saturday, December 2 from 9AM – 4PM and Sunday, December 3 from 10AM – 2PM. Dozens of vendors with handcrafted gifts, home baked goods, local artisans, all with affordable pricing for your holiday lists.

·       Dee Sidwell Art Demonstration Cascade Art Works  48309 E 1st St. December 2, 2023 at 1 PM. Dee Sidwell is the featured Artist of the month for December. Refreshments will be served.

·       Another beloved annual event is the Office Bridge Lighting Festival Saturday December 2 from 6-8 PM. Festivities include photos, cookies hot cocoa, coffee, gift bags for the kids, live music and fire dancers.

·       At 7 PM wander on back into the 3 Legged Crane to hear our own Cajun fiddler, Kelly Thibodeaux, and Acoustic Etouffee. This band is a huge crowd pleaser and a foot stompin’ good time.

SUNDAY EVENTS

·       Oakridge Holiday Market at 3 Legged Crane, Sunday December 3 from 1-6 PM. This market features six local artisans with holiday offerings to please everyone on your list. This week’s featured artisans are:

– Wondering Madrona

– Christi Deadmond

– Sunny Zylstra

– Barbara Counsil Burney

– Cheri Moritz

– Bree Crane

 Also at 1 PM, visit Cascade Art Works for a Trunk Show with Audrey Haggenmiller on December 3^rd. Come see her incredible work and watch a demo of how she works with brass sheeting and lead crystal.

 

 

 

 

 

Janet Hansen retired from the music industry as a senior marketing exec and publicist in 2017. Her work comprised interfacing with national media in campaigns that include credits in three GRAMMY awards, and two of history’s most popular songs. She returned to her home in Oakridge in 2019 opening Boho Chateau, a boutique dedicated to local history and art in 2020.