ARLINGTON — Sugar and Spice have become a popular feature of Arlington’s holiday celebration.
The horses owned by Mark Winterhalter bring Santa into town leading the Santa Parade on the first Saturday every December, and continues to offer free wagon rides on Saturdays until Christmas, thanks to the financial support of the Downtown Arlington Business Association.
This year, Santa Claus will greet visitors in the new gazebo in Legion Park following the Santa Parade which starts at noon, Saturday, Dec. 6.
The community is invited to join in the parade to help give Santa a grand welcome. Applications area available at City Hall, 238 N. Olympic.
Following the parade the city will light-up a Christmas tree in Legion Park and there will be music and hot chocolate provided by Lifeway Church.
Kids can visit with Santa and get pictures from 1 – 4 p.m.
DABA is also offering opportunities to win big raffle baskets to all who spend money at downtown stores during the day. Shoppers will receive tickets for each $10 spent and the drawing will take place at the gazebo at 2:30 p.m.
An assortment of young musicians will be singing from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the merchants parking lot in the 300 block, according to organizer Nola Smith, of Pacific Learning Solutions and the School Box Bookstore.
Groups include the Highland Christian Treble Choir, Kent Prairie Choir on Fire directed by Laurie Swanson, Arlington Assembly of God Youth Group, Lifeway Four Square Singers, Haller Middle School music groups directed by Joe Horsak and Academy Northwest youth musicians. There will be singing groups on the street two Saturdays, Dec. 6 and 13.
There will also be guitarists wandering from store to store during those Saturday. Guitarists include Gary Huot, Becki Rosenthal with family, Mark Osterud, and Chris Lamay
Visitors are encouraged to bring nonperishable food donations for the food bank.
Santa Claus will also be making the rounds visiting the neighborhoods of Arlington for at least two weeks on evenings in December with the Arlington Kiwanis Club assisting in collecting donations to the food bank.
For information about Santa’s route and schedule, call City Hall at 360-403-3448.
