Tree lighting festival Saturday in Cathlamet

The Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce will hold their annual Tree Lighting Celebration this Saturday in front of the Wahkiakum County Courthouse.

Sheriff Mark Howie will start the festivities at 4:30 p.m. The crowd will sing carols until the arrival of Santa Claus at 4:45 in a Cathlamet Fire Truck.

“Santa will get off the truck, shimmy through the crowd, and light the tree at 5 p.m.,” Chamber Director Monica Budd said.

Afterwards, Santa will head to the Hotel Cathlamet to greet kids and the young at heart and give away goodie bags donated by the chamber.

That day is also a kick off for the Chamber’s new shop local campaign, which will last through the month of December. All the businesses in the county, east and Westend, are welcome to participate. Shoppers will get a sticker provided by the chamber and take a picture with their purchase, which will enter them in a drawing once a week for $20, for five weeks, and then a big drawing for $100 to end the event.

It’s all businesses that want to participate, whether shoppers are picking up a gift in a local shop, buying a subscription at The Eagle, or purchasing something at Computer Link NW. The money won in the drawing can be used for anything as well, Budd said, to buy something fun, to do a little grocery shopping, or even pay a PUD bill.

“We want people to shop local and support our businesses,” Budd said.

It’s not a chamber event, but there will be a Christmas Bazaar at the new River Rat meeting room on Broadway Street, Budd said, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday as well. Santa Claus will be there from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“There’s going to be a lot to do in town,” Budd said.