Everett's holiday spirit kindles early this year with the annual Wintertide celebration, a series of festive events set to run from mid-November to the end of December across various city venues. The excitement ignites next Friday, as the City of Everett hosts its no-cost Wintertide Tree Lighting and Kickoff Celebration in downtown Everett, lighting up the heart of the city with hourly blizzards at Colby Ave. and Hewitt Ave., as detailed by the City of Everett.
Downtown Everett becomes a hub of holiday cheer that evening, boasting the likes of Santa Claus leading the tree lighting, live performances to entertain all ages, and an opportunity for photos with Santa at the Historic Theatre, not to mention a Wintertide Workshop craft tent that promises to stir creativity in the young and young at heart alike, according to a press release from the City of Everett. Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin expressed pride in continuing the city's much-cherished holiday tradition, emphasizing the importance of accessibility during the holiday season, "The holidays can be an expensive time of year, so I’m proud we’re able to offer such a fantastic variety of free holiday fun at our kickoff and tree lighting event thanks to grant funding" Franklin told the city's news outlet.
Following the kickoff event, Wintertide extends its holiday mirth with over 40 activities scheduled, including the post-Thanksgiving Shop Small initiative, where Downtown Everett invites patrons to indulge in local commerce on Small Business next Saturday, and the sweet-tooth-inspired 2nd annual Cookie Crawl on December 14. For waterfront festivities, the Port of Everett's Holiday on the Bay slated for December 7 pairs the maritime with the merry, featuring the Holiday Hooves: 12 Days of Reindeer event that is set to start next Saturday.
More events brim across the city, with Wintertide at the Village promising an enriching mix of music, stories, and community warmth on December 6, while downtown's Holiday Lights promises to dazzle with 6-foot snowflakes and ornate tree adornments along Colby Avenue in a demonstration of holiday glow. The Evergreen Arboretum contributes to the season's joy with the Wintertide Lights, and plans a Solstice Luminary Walk on December 21 – a luminescent invitation to winter, offering yet another family-friendly event to brighten the darker days characteristic of the season, as per the City of Everett release conveyed.
With a season full of events crafted to create lasting memories, Everett readies itself to become a nucleus of holiday tradition and celebration, looking to instill a sense of cheer in every visitor and community member that walks its blizzard-kissed streets. More information on specific events, dates, and venues can be found at the City of Everett official website, detailing the full extent of the Wintertide festivities.
