The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Sequim’s Hometown Holidays tradition continues to be the unofficial start to locals’ Christmas season with music, a tree lighting and a tractor cruise.
The City of Sequim, Sequim Museum & Arts, and the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce welcome locals and visitors alike to the event starting at 1 p.m. Nov. 30 in Centennial Place, on the northeast corner of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street.
Seating is limited for the musical kick off at 1:30 p.m. by the Sequim City Band.
During their performance, Santa Claus and the Irrigation Festival royalty will arrive with friends from Clallam County Fire District 3.
Santa will be available in his sleigh for photo-ops. While there won’t be an official photographer for the event, Chamber staff will be available to capture photos for family members on their phones.
Following the band’s performance, Juan de Fuca Harmony sings at 2:30 p.m., with a four-part harmony leaning into a classic barbershop quartet sound.
Olympic Brass, a quintet of Sequim City Band performers, performs at 3:30 p.m.
At 4:15 p.m., At Large sings carols around the City of Sequim’s Christmas tree, and at 4:45 p.m. the winner of the “Guess the Lights (total)” sponsored by Sound Community Bank will be announced, followed by the tree lighting, sponsored by 7 Cedars Resort.
At Large will continue to lead visitors in carols until the tractor cruise arrives.
Throughout the event, there will be coloring for children, and wreaths, hot cocoa and cookies for sale by local scouts.
Hometown Holidays also coincides with Small Business Saturday, a day to celebrate shopping locally and with small retailers. A Shop Sequim tote will be available for purchase with more than two dozen local coupons honored through Dec. 31.
Lighted Tractor Cruise
Chamber and City of Sequim staffers are working to close the Lighted Tractor Cruise route to traffic around 4 p.m.
The Tractor Cruise route is a simple square, coming from Fir Street at the Sequim School District’s Central Kitchen east to Sequim Avenue, then south to Washington Street, west to Fifth Avenue, south on Fifth Avenue and back to Fir Street.
To participate in the cruise, bring your tractor to the kitchen (former Sequim Community School site) between Sequim Avenue and Second Avenue starting at 3 p.m.
Participants are asked to line up by 4 p.m.
Requirements include:
• Only farm equipment (tractors) will be included in the cruise
• Unload tractor and line up upon arrival
• Orange rear safety triangle and fire extinguisher required
• Driver’s license required
During the Cruise:
• Load and secure passengers before starting with arms and legs inside the framework of the trailer bed
• No candy or treats may be distributed
• No alcohol consumption
• No open flames
• No smoking
Organizers note, if your tractor breaks down during the cruise, they ask you to pull over to the side of the street.
For questions about the Tractor Cruise, you can call either Sequim Museum and Arts at 360-681-2257 or the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce at 360-683-6197.
For more information about Hometown Holidays (or any other Chamber of Commerce program), email director@sequimchamber.com or call 360-683-6197.
Sequim Gazette file photo by Emily Matthiessen Tractors will travel through downtown Sequim on Nov. 30 starting at 4:45 p.m. with staging at the Sequim School District Central Kitchen starting at 3 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce/ Santa and Sequim Irrigation Royalty Skylar Kryzworz ready to greet visitors at Hometown Holidays in 2023. Santa and the royalty return Nov. 30 to Centennial Place.
