Tree cutting, big horses, Santa, more weekend fun

Pick your tree: Thanksgiving is over and now we can think ahead to Christmas. If you’d like to cut your own holiday tree, check out our list of places to go here.

Plan your holidays: The holiday season is in full swing now. Take a look ahead and make sure you have time for your favorite activities. Take a look at our list here. You’ll find light displays, ballets, music, festivals and a lot more. And there are a lot of events that kick off this weekend.

Meet St. Nic: A North Pole Party is from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett. Kids can visit with Santa, and enjoy story time with Mrs. Claus. There will also be games, music, a tree lighting and crafts. Find more details in our story here along with a preview of other upcoming events at Imagine.

See the lights: Light Up Historic Downtown Monroe is on Saturday along Main and Lewis streets. A holiday bazaar runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the tree lighting is from 4 to 5 p.m. There is also a craft beer and wine walk through 12 businesses with holiday snacks for those 21 and older. Walk tickets are $20. Call 360-794-5488 for more information.

Think art: “Celebration” is the featured exhibit at Schack’s annual Holiday Art Show with works by the Women Painters of Washington. The Holiday Art Show will also include glass and pottery by several local artists. The exhibit and show runs through Dec. 27 in the main gallery, 2921 Hoyt Ave. Everett. For more information, click here.

Meet Santa: Snohomish is celebrating Home for the Holidays on Friday featuring Santa Claus lighting up the Christmas tree in the historic downtown. Santa will arrive at 3:30 p.m. at the corner of First Street and Avenue B. He’ll be available for photos to anyone with their own camera from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bee Bops and Lollipops store, 1112 First St. There is no cost for photos. For more information, click here.

Beeswax candles: The Quiet Light Candles Christmas Festival begins at noon on Friday at the Convent of the Meeting of the Lord in Stanwood. A small convent of Orthodox Christian nuns support themselves by making 100 percent beeswax candles. Free tour are offered and you can make your own candle. Hours are noon-7 p.m. Fridays, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. through Dec. 22. Call the convent to arrange a weekday visit. The convent is located at 29206 64th Ave NW, Stanwood. Call 360-629-0285 for more information. For directions, go to www.quietlightcandles.com.

BIG horses: The Budweiser Clydesdales are scheduled to make appearances in Marysville, Oak Harbor and Arlington after Thanksgiving. All events are dependent on the weather. Rainy weather means that the horses need to be kept inside at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds where the public can still visit them. The horses will be at the fairground from 9 a.m. to noon from Friday to Sunday. If it’s rainy, they will stay at the fairground and be available until 4 p.m. Here’s the schedule:

• 2 to 4 p.m. Friday: Navy Exchange, Marysville, 13904 45th Ave. NE, Building No. 13904, Marysville.

• 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday: Navy Exchange, Oak Harbor, 2110 North Coral Sea Ave., Building No. 17, Oak Harbor.

• 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday: Smokey Point Walmart, 4010 172nd St., Arlington.

Dine in style: Take a look at our recent dining reviews to find something delicious.

Want to have the to-do list emailed to you each week? Click here to sign up.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Penny Clark, owner of Travel Time of Everett Inc., at her home office on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In a changing industry, travel agents ‘so busy’ navigating modern travel

While online travel tools are everywhere, travel advisers still prove useful — and popular, says Penny Clark, of Travel Time in Arlington.

(Daniel Berman for The Washington Post)
The Rick Steves guide to life

The longtime Edmonds resident is trying to bring a dash of the Europe he loves to south Snohomish County.

Travis Furlanic shows the fluorescent properties of sulfur tuft mushrooms during a Whidbey Wild Mushroom Tour at Tilth Farmers Market on Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Langley, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
On Whidbey Island, local fungi forager offers educational mushroom tours

Every spring and fall, Travis Furlanic guides groups through county parks. His priority, he said, is education.

Bright orange Azalea Arneson Gem in flower.
Deciduous azaleas just love the Pacific Northwest’s evergreen climate

Each spring, these shrubs put on a flower show with brilliant, varied colors. In fall, their leaves take center stage.

Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

The Grand Kyiv Ballet performs Thursday in Arlington, and Elvis impersonators descend on Everett this Saturday.

An example of delftware, this decorative plate sports polychrome blooms

Delft is a type of tin-glazed earthenware pottery born in Holland. This 16th century English piece sold for $3,997 at auction.

Great Plant Pick: Dwarf Purpleleaf Japanese Barberry

What: Dwarf Purpleleaf Japanese Barberry, or berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea Concorde, was… Continue reading

Spring plant sales in Snohomish County

Find perennials, vegetable starts, shrubs and more at these sales, which raise money for horticulture scholarships.

Byzantine mosaics
With its beautiful Byzantine mosaics, Ravenna only gets better with age

Near Italy’s Adriatic coast, it was the westernmost pillar of the Byzantine Empire and a flickering light in the Dark Ages.

Artist Libby Hammer picks through bits and pieces collected from Whidbey Island beaches recently at her home in Oak Harbor. (Sam Fletcher / Whidbey News-Times)
Whidbey Island artist collects beach rubble to make Ragamuffin’s Rock Art

Libby Hammer got her start with wood in Tacoma. After moving to Oak Harbor, she shifted to rocks, shells and sea glass.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT has wide fender cladding, a dark chrome grille, and premium LED daytime running lights.
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz is two vehicles in one

The half SUV, half pickup has a new XRT variant in place of the previous SEL Premium.

Planning for a loved one’s death can make losing them less difficult

Patients and family members deal with many unknowns, including not only the disease process but also the dying process.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.