We recently pointed out the benefits of Christmas shopping at home if you live on South Whidbey, but we would be negligent not to point out that our community is also the best place to just enjoy yourself in the weeks leading up to the holiday.
The Lighting of Langley last Saturday is an example. It was a fun, quaint celebration at Langley Park with Santa Claus, alpacas disguised as reindeer, Christmas music and singing, candy canes for the kids, and a portion of the cast from “Scrooge, the Musical” dressed in Victorian Christmas attire. Capping it off was the ceremonial lighting of the city’s Christmas tree. A well-trimmed, cut eight-footer, the tree looks pretty and fits nicely with the scale of the little park. It was a great night for kids and adults alike, and required no off-island travel.
Holiday tradition continues today in Langley, with the Holiday Parade along First Street starting at 11 a.m. That night, the Art Walk takes place from 5 to 7 p.m.
This may be the busiest holiday weekend of the season. Shut off the TV, stop cleaning the house and get out and enjoy yourself. “Scrooge, the Musical” is playing at WICA and holiday bazaars are taking place at the Eagle’s Aerie near Freeland, Bayview Hall, the Holmes Harbor Rod and Gun Club and Clinton Community Hall. For bibliophiles, the Freeland Library is holding a sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lots more is going on in Greenbank and Coupeville. Check the South Whidbey Record’s online calendar or continue to peruse the pages of this newspaper.
The bazaars are of particular interest to those looking for an unusual or particularly creative gift for that hard-to-please person or crazy uncle. The types and quality of items created by South Whidbey residents is amazing, from blown glass to scarves knitted from the fleece of animals raised right here. The arts really shine in the many galleries to be found in Langley, Greenbank and other locations.
Families make memories by staying home and enjoying what the island has to offer during the holidays. Go ahead, take a long, expensive car ride and deal with the massive crowds at the mall or downtown Seattle. It doesn’t hurt to see how other people live. It simply makes us more thankful that we can live on South Whidbey Island.
