It’s beginning to look a lot like Holidays at the Beach

Published 4:00 pm Sunday, November 18, 2012

LONG BEACH PENINSULA, Wash. Warmly decorated with garlands and lights, Victorian villages, fishing ports and beach towns along Southwest Washingtons Long Beach Peninsula will host a series of events to build anticipation for the winter holidays. According to the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, highlights include a lighted boat parade, caroling, lighting of the town tree in Long Beach and a crab pot Christmas tree in Ilwaco, craft making with Mrs. Claus, a birthday party for Frosty the Snowman, and fireworks displays over the water. The events start Friday, Nov. 23, with Holidays at the Beach, all are free to the public, with a donation of non-perishable food or warm clothing items for local charities requested at two events.

Colorful lights and cheerful events make everything glitter here at the beach during the holiday season, said Andi Day, the visitor bureaus executive director. They brighten the longer nights, build anticipation for the holidays and bring smiles to the faces of children and adults alike.

Main events for the 2012 holiday season on the Long Beach Peninsula are as follows:

Holidays at the Beach (Nov. 23 to 25) in Long Beach, includes a pajama party screening of The Polar Express, hosted by Mrs. Claus and the Railroad Conductor, at the Neptune Theater at 809 Boulevard St. S., at 1 p.m. Friday; a magic show by Mrs. Claus at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday at the Elks Lodge, 110 N. Pacific Highway, with craft making before and after the shows and free pictures with Santa starting at 3 p.m.; caroling at the gazebo and tree lighting with the mayor, from 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday; and a celebration of Frosty the Snowmans birthday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, with an encore magic show, more crafts and a slice of birthday cake with Frosty, who welcomes donations of hats, mittens and winter clothing. For more information, log on to http://holidayslongbeach.com

Peninsula Arts Association Studio Tour (Nov. 23 and 24) provides an opportunity to meet artists in their studios from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. along the Long Beach Peninsula. One-of-a-kind mementos, home décor items, handcrafted jewelry and unique creations will be on display and available for purchase. Check it out at www.beachartist.org

Community Tree Lighting (Nov. 30) at the Ocean Park Eagles at 1409 Bay Ave. at 6 p.m., including Santas workshop, refreshments and pictures with Santa at the Ocean Park Fire Station at 26110 Ridge Ave.

The Lighted Boat Parade and Crab Pot Christmas Tree (Dec. 1), at the Port of Ilwaco, celebrates the lighting of a huge Christmas Tree made of stacked and tied crab pots at 5 p.m. The lighting will be followed by a parade of decorated, lighted fishing, charter and pleasure boats from the Port of Ilwaco to Cape Disappointment at 6 p.m., weather permitting.

Bed and Breakfast Holiday Open House (Dec. 8 and 9) is an annual open house with tours from 1 to 4 p.m. of the inns and bed and breakfast establishments, decked out in holiday finery. Charitable donations of nonperishable food will be accepted and distributed to local food banks.

Tuba Christmas (Dec. 9), presented by the Water Music Festival Society, brings the Astoria Tuba Quartet to Ilwacos Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum, 115 S.E. Lake St., to perform sounds of the holiday season in an afternoon concert from 2 to 4 p.m. Find out more at www.watermusicfestival.com/tuba-christmas

Fireworks at Midnight over the Pacific Ocean (Dec. 31) rings in the New Year with five minutes of fireworks over the Pacific Ocean in front of the boardwalk in Long Beach.

For visitors, the string of coastal communities along the Long Beach Peninsula offer exceptional restaurants, ultra-fresh seafood, welcoming lodging, and unique holiday shopping options. Unique museums and attractions, lighthouses, fine art galleries, meandering trails, and, above all, its long, wide, windswept beach make the Long Beach Peninsula one of the Northwests most enjoyable and refreshing getaway destinations. For event and visitor information, call the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau toll free at 800-451-2542 or visit www.funbeach.com