Holidays in Oak Harbor

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, December 7, 2005

Take a stroll this weekend through festive Old Town Oak Harbor and enjoy merriment, music and good cheer.

A group of Marines from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station were busy Tuesday, hanging evergreen boughs throughout downtown to get Christmas spirits launched. Now lights are hung. Banners are up. And Santa’s coming to town 10 a.m. Saturday.

Santa will station himself in the Old Town Mall so that youngsters can whisper their Christmas wishes while parents take pictures for family memory albums.

Santa will arrive in a Pirate Boat, giving a nautical twist to the Navy town celebration. He’ll keep company with Wally the Fire Truck and Whidbey Playhouse characters in the holiday parade through downtown.

The shops will stay open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Customers may vote on their favorite store decorations by placing a ballot in voting bags that can be found in participating stores.

Local school music groups will play as the youngsters stroll in and out of shops. And refreshments will be available for snacking by all.

While visiting downtown, donate a toy to the Fireman’s Association for a needy child. And take advantage of the special sales and promotions that Harborside Merchants will offer. Everyone is invited to enter a drawing for a $1,000 shopping spree from the Whidbey News-Times.