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Sophia Aldous
NEWPORT – If the festive spirit is indicative of anything in the Pend Oreille Valley, it’s that one doesn’t need to break the bank to create wonderful holiday memories. Below is a list of free events and activities in Pend Oreille and Bonner Counties (some events are fundraisers and ask for donations). Entries are organized by date. We’ve tried to be comprehensive, but if we’ve missed one, please email details to minernews@ povn.com no later than Fridays at 5:30 p.m. to be included the following week’s newspaper.
Create Holiday Artist Shop this week
Create Art Center’s Holiday Artists’ Shop is Dec. 5-7, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It features diverse art mediums including pottery, Kimekomi ornaments, fiber and fabric arts, wood bowls, Wild Women of the Woods characters, visual arts, copper and tin art jewelry and more.
There will be refreshments and live music with Rick Hiller performing on Friday, Ben Kardos on Saturday and Joanne Heinz on Thursday and Sunday.
For more information, call 509-447-9277 or go to www.createarts.org.
Create is located at 900 4th St. in Newport.
Christmas in Coolin
Christmas in Coolin is Thursday, Dec.
5 - Saturday, Dec. 7.
There will be vendors, ornament making, hot cocoa, sleigh rides, and more. For a complete list of times and events, go to www.facebook.com/ events/priest-lake-idaho/ christmas-in-coolin-andaround- the-lake-weekend.
Red Neck Lights Parade
The annual Red Neck Lights Parade returns to Metaline Falls Friday, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. Participants are encouraged to decorate the vehicle of their choice, motorized or not, with Christmas lights and other festive décor. Santa will accompany the parade followed by the tree lighting and fireworks.
People in the procession should line up at the Cutter Theatre at 4 p.m.
For more information, contact Shawn Bentley at 509-217-6605 or Floyd Christman at 509-4455338. The Cutter theatre is located at 302 Park St. in Metaline Falls.
Christmas Gift and Bake Sale
Newport Christian Women’s Fellowship is hosting a Christmas Gift and Bake Sale at Newport Community Church on Friday, Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch will be available that Friday only from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The church is located at 430 W. Third Street.
For more information, call 509-447-4121.
Country Christmas at Circle Moon
Music Director Mark D.
Caldwell and Northwoods Performing Arts presents the annual holiday show, titled, “For Unto Y’All, A Country Christmas.”
“Unto Y’All” performances are scheduled on Dec. 6-7, 10, and 12-14.
Gala Night on Dec. 6 includes a served, sit-down prime rib dinner for $45 per person. Show only tickets are not available on Gala Night. All other dinner show tickets are $35 per person, and $14 for show only. Senior and children’s tickets are $12.
Dining service begins at 6:30 p.m. and the curtain opens at 7:30 p.m.
For tickets and reservations, call 208-448-1294 or go to www.northwoodsperformingarts. com or Seeber’s Pharmacy in Newport.
Circle Moon Theater is located on Highway 211, 3-1/2 miles north of Highway 2.
Free Christmas Movie Marathon
The Roxy’s free Christmas Movie Marathon is back Saturday, Dec. 7, featuring an ugly Christmas sweater contest. Come wearing the gaudiest, most festive Christmas clothes for a chance to win a prize at 2 p.m.
The lineup is as follows: doors open at 12:15 p.m., Charlie Brown Christmas at 12:45 p.m., Ice Age Christmas at 1:30 p.m., Ugly Sweater Contest at 2 p.m., The Grinch (2018) at 2:30 p.m., and Home Alone at 4:15 p.m. Entry is free, but regular concession prices still apply.
The Roxy is located at 120 S. Washington Ave. in Newport.
Stratton Elementary Craft Fair
The Stratton Elementary School Craft Fair is Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be pictures with Santa, baked goods, jewelry, metal and wood art and much more from a variety of vendors.
For booth information, call Monica at 509-4470656.
Christmas in Elk
The Elk Christmas Extravaganza is Saturday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. Elk SCOPE will do their annual toy giveaway at the Elk Fire Station. The Elk Veterans of Foreign Wars will host the craft bazar with soup and some homemade gifts for families. Santa Claus will be at Elk Community Park 1-3 p.m. There will be a bonfire, hot cocoa and goodies for the kids.
The park is located at 40502 N. Elk-Camden Rd.
Lake Ladies Christmas Party
Join the Lake Ladies Book Club Christmas Party Friday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. at Priest Lake Public Library. Participants are asked to bring a wrapped, used book for the exchange game.
The library is located at 28769 Hwy. 57.
Pictures With Santa (and ponies)
Santa Claus and his two mini ponies will be available for photos at West Pend Oreille Fire District Saturday, Dec. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be free hot cocoa and cookies.
The event is located at Station 1, 61 Airfield Way in Priest River.
See Santa and his reindeer
Santa Claus and his reindeer, Donner and Blitzen, will be at the Kalispel Park Sunday, Dec. 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests can get their pictures taken with Santa and decorate Christmas cookies. Dress for the weather.
Kalispel Park is located at 420 Qlispe’ River Way in Cusick.
Ornament decorating Dec. 16
There will be Christmas ornament decorating for the whole family at the Camas Center for Community Wellness Monday, Dec. 16, 4 - 6 p.m. For more information, contact Hollie Axel at 509-4477283.
The center is located at 1897 LeClerc Rd. N., Cusick.
Gingerbread Party Fundraiser
There will be a gingerbread party hosted by Girl Scout Troop 2378 at Create Art Center Sunday, Dec. 15, 12-4 p.m. Participants are invited to join in the fun or stop by for a gingerbread kit to-go.
All proceeds support the Girl Scout troop. Cost is $5 per gingerbread house kit, $15 for family kits (three kits included), $1 Santa Claus letter station and $2 for face painting.
There will also be a hot cocoa station (donations encouraged) and a free photo booth.
Create is located at 900 W. 4th St. in Newport.
Winter Wonderland at Priest Lake Library
Priest Lake Public Library will host its Winter Wonderland gift wrapping and card/ craft station throughout the month of December during opening hours.
Join the library every Friday at 10 a.m. to learn how to make a different craft. The library is open Mondays – Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The library’s holiday party is Friday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. Bring a secret Santa gift to share.
The library is located at 28769 Hwy. 57.
Santa’s Workshop at Hospitality House
The fifth Annual Santa’s Workshop for ages three to 15 is Saturday, Dec.
21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hospitality House located at 216 S. Washington Ave. in Newport.
There will be photos with Santa, a card making station, coffee, hot chocolate and apple cider. Kids shop for free.
Free showing of Muppet Christmas Carol
The Pend Oreille County Library District is hosting a free showing of the 1992 family musical ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ Saturday, Dec. 21, 3 p.m. at the NuVu Showhouse.
Children will receive a free small popcorn. All other concession prices still apply.
The NuVu is located at 523 N. Commercial St., Metaline Falls.
Volunteers needed for Christmas Bird Count Local bird watchers are looking for a new Pend Oreille Christmas Bird Count compiler to enter all the Pend Oreille Valley Christmas Bird Count (CBC) sightings onto the national website. The local count area is a 15-mile diameter circle with the east edge just including Oldtown and stretching west almost to Calispel Lake.
John Stuart has been the organizer and compiler since starting the count 21 years ago but is ready to pass the torch on.
The POCBC will be held this year on Sunday, Dec. 22. Everyone is invited to participate. People will meet at Audrey’s Restaurant in Newport at 7 a.m. Coffee and breakfast can be had while routes are divided up and maps distributed.
Participants will leave at 7:30 and meet up again at Mi Pueblo restaurant at 4 p.m. to coalesce bird numbers and talk over the day’s sightings.
To participate and for more information, email Stuart at [email protected] or call 509671-1443. Feeder-watchers are encouraged to walk around their neighborhoods if they want to extend their “backyards.” New volunteers are always welcome to participate. The CBC website has additional compiler information at www.audubon.org/conservation/ science/christmas- bird-count/christmas- bird-count-compiler- resources.
