Big week of holiday events includes Festival of Trees, parade, free concert

This week is packed with holiday events in Weiser, enough to get even Scrooge in the spirit of the Christmas season, with the Festival of Trees, the nightlight parade and the Upper Country Singers will perform their annual concert.

 The theme for this year’s Festival of Trees is “There is snow place like home.” The event celebrates 32 years and is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Weiser Memorial Hospital Foundation.

 Last year’s Festival of Trees raised $50,000 for the foundation, and this year’s financial goal is even larger at $55,000. The proceeds are pledged to help the hospital acquire a new CT scanner. 

 The decorated Christmas trees will be auctioned on Wednesday, Nov. 28, at the Gala Evening at the Vendome, a big social night in Weiser during the holidays. Dinner will be followed by silent auction, raffles and the live auction. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. 

 On Friday, Nov. 30, the public is invited to view the decorated trees at the Vendome all day and evening from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

 From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Vendome will be filled with the sounds of the holiday season provided by local entertainers. 

 The Chamber of Commerce-sponsored nightlight parade also will take place on Friday, Nov. 30, starting at 6 p.m. The theme for this year’s parade is “There is snow place like home.” Plan on dressing warm for what is likely to be a chilly evening to be outdoors. 

 Parade organizers ask that lights be incorporated into floats or the parade entries to add to the visual spectacle. They also don’t want any live Santas in the parade. Inflatable Santas and Santa statues are OK. The lineup for the parade will take place at 5 p.m. at Weiser Middle School.

 As always, the real Santa Claus has taken some time out of his busy schedule to visit Weiser and ride in the parade. Santa is usually pretty good about bringing plenty of candy to toss to kids along the parade route. 

 Santa will make an appearance in the parade and at the end when the city’s Christmas lights are lit in front of the train depot. Santa gathers children around the tree and throws up his magical dust to turn on the lights. After that, the city fire department shoots off fireworks. At 7:30 p.m. Santa will mosey over to the Vendome to meet kids at the Festival of Trees.

 On Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the decorated trees at the Festival of Trees will be available again for public viewing in the Vendome and there will be more local entertainment. 

 The weekend of holiday events wraps up with the Upper Country Singers under the direction of Debbie Warren performing at their annual Christmas concert in Cambridge. Over 35 choir members from all over the area have been practicing since early September to present a program titled “Ah! Sweet Christmas.”

 In addition, a children’s choir led by Laurel Sherman will perform Christmas selections. The evening will be topped off by talented soloists, groups, instrumentalists and a surprise guest.  

 This special program will help to start the holidays right on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m. at the decorated fairgrounds exhibit hall in Cambridge. The concert attracts visitors from all over the region. Homemade goodies are served during intermission by choir members.

 While the concert is free, donations are welcomed and encouraged. All funds collected will be used to produce next year’s concert.