The holiday season officially gets under way in Kent this weekend with the lighting of the tree, the arrival of Santa Claus and a downtown celebration called Winterfest.
The fun begins Saturday morning with a waffle breakfast at Maggie’s on Meeker from 9 a.m. to noon. A waffle, sausage, coffee or juice will be $5 and Maggie’s will be accepting food and cash donations for the Kent Food Bank.
Downtown also will ring out with the sound of holiday songs as local youth and adult music groups will be performing all day long from street corners in the area.
At 11 a.m., a One-Mile Walk with Mayor Suzette Cooke begins at The Balanced Athlete on 1st Avenue, followed by the Kids ‘n Kritters pet walk at 2 p.m. The Kids ‘n Kritters Walk begins at the carousel and weaves in and out of the streets of downtown Kent and pet costumes are encouraged.
The Kids ‘n Kritters Walk benefits Another Chance Pet Adoption and King County Animal Care and Control. To register, bring a large, clean blanket or towel to McMonigle Veterinary Hospital at 1014 N. Central Ave.
To register, or to get more information about the Kids ‘n Kritters Walk, call McMonigle Veterinary Hospital at 253-852-3565.
Also available in the afternoon will be the Holly Jolly Horse-Drawn Carriage which will be free with a donation to the food bank.
The Kent Downtown Partnership is the organizer of Winterfest. And as part of those festivities, the Kent Lions Club also is getting into the spirit of the day, with its downtown fete titled “A Christmas Gift from the Kent Lions.”
The event kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday with the arrival of Santa to the City of Kent with a mini Santa parade, which also features Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke and the Miss Cornucopia parade float. Cooke will present Santa with a key to the city, and the Kent Station Santa House will be open at that time for the remainder of the season.
Children’s activities, such as a Holiday Story Time at the Kent Library, a bike give-away, ornament-making projects and a carousel offer holiday excitement for the entire family. Local choirs will add to the festivities with renditions of both traditional and contemporary Christmas hymns and carols. The Kent Lions will be on hand providing warm drinks and snacks for all who stop by their booth.
The highlight is the lighting of the 35-foot Christmas tree and the entire Town Square park, synchronized to music. Children who attend the Holiday Story Time will receive VIP seating at the Christmas-tree lighting. Festivities run until 9 p.m.
The Kent Lions will also be on hand all day helping with ornament-making projects and providing warm drinks and snacks to all who stop by their booth.
The Kent Lions are an all-volunteer civic organization and also produces Kent Cornucopia Days and the Kent Farmers’ Market.
For more information about Winterfest, visit www.kentwinterfest.com.
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