The Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Home Town Holidays celebration, complete with visits from Santa, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and a Christmas Tractor Cruise brought in both residents and visitors from across the Olympic Peninsula.
The event, set at Centennial Place (the corner of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street) started in the afternoon on Nov. 24 in conjunction with the Chamber’s “Small Business Saturday.”
Many children got to sit with Santa Claus on his sleigh and take photos with the 2018 Sequim Irrigation Festival Royalty Court.
Emily Westcott, one of the Christmas tree organizers, and Chamber executive director Anji Scalf kicked off the lighting of the 30-foot Christmas tree, followed by a Christmas Tractor Cruise sponsored by Sequim Museum & Arts.
The tractor cruise included about 50 tractors and trailers that showed a display of Christmas decorations, lights, music, and more.
Museum executive director Judy Reandeau Stipe said a crowd favorite this year was the Seahawks-themed float pulled by an old Fordson tractor with more than 1,000 lights and sported Seahawks flags and colors.
“I couldn’t believe how many of these beautiful machines showed up with decorations and trailers,” Reandeau Stipe said.
“Everyone was having a great time and it was a real joy to experience. Old, new, restored, rusty, or whatever was running that day and came out to celebrate the Chamber of Commerce’s Hometown Holidays.”
City sets tree-lighting ceremony
The City of Sequim and the City Arts Advisory Commission hosts the lighting of the Holiday Tree at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, in the lobby of the Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St. Attendees will enjoy a guest appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Civic Center Holiday Tree is decorated with ornaments made by local fourth grade students. For more information, contact City Clerk Karen Kuznek-Reese at 360-681-3428 or kkuznek@sequimwa.gov.
Sequim residents and visitors line up along East Washington Street on Nov. 24 to watch as Dick Cays (dressed as the Grinch) drives Sequim Museum & Arts’ 1953 Ferguson tractor for the Christmas Tractor Cruise. Sequim Gazette photo by Erin Hawkins
Evie Hall, front left, Nicholas Breitbach, and Tommy Hall, wave as tractors decked out in Christmas attire drive down East Washington Street on Nov. 24. Sequim Gazette photo by Erin Hawkins
Dylan Krashan, 14 months, looks up at Santa Claus on the corner of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street after the tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 24. Sequim Gazette photo by Erin Hawkins
