Holiday traditions celebrated at Winter Fest events

Holiday favorites include time spent with loved ones, consuming copious amounts of sugar and singing traditional holiday tunes. The spirit of the holidays will come alive in downtown Ritzville on Saturday, December 15, as the Winter Fest activities continue.

This year’s inaugural Winter Fest celebration began with a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and will culminate with hayrides and caroling in Ritzville. The entirety of the Winter Fest events also includes Jingle Bell Shop, which encourages residents and visitors to shop locally in Ritzville for the opportunity to win a prize.

The December 15 festivities include a gingerbread house contest, hayrides, fireside treats and caroling. The activities are all sensory, family-friendly events.

Children of all ages, adults included, are welcomed to enter the Gingerbread House Contest at the H.E. Gritman Senior Center in downtown Ritzville. All entries must be premade with edible materials, and entered into the contest from 4:30-5:00 p.m.

The entries will be judged and prizes will be awarded in three age categories: 10 years old and under, 11-17 years old, and 18 and over. The gingerbread houses will be judged at 5 p.m. and can be picked up at 7 p.m., following the evening’s events.

At 5 p.m., the festivities move to the heart of the downtown district at Pioneer Plaza, sitting at the intersection of Main Avenue and Washington Street.

A modern-day sleigh, adorned with hay bales and pulled by a tractor driven by Ritzville’s own mayor, will serve as the vehicle for hayrides and caroling. As the vehicle weaves through the streets, passengers can join in caroling from the trailer.

Song sheets will be provided to passengers, and any popular holiday songs are encouraged to be sung proudly as carolers enjoy a ride through the lighted streets. Carolers are welcome to take multiple journeys on the sleigh, or take a break to enjoy a tasty treat.

While chestnuts may not be roasting on an open fire, visitors are invited to cook s’mores at the fire pit while keeping warm after a spirited round of caroling. All of the s’mores materials are provided free of charge to participants. The senior center will also remain open for visitors to warm up and relax in case of inclement weather.

The December 15 events are geared towards celebrating the joy of the season, and creating new holiday traditions with family and friends. Those traveling to the community can expect to enjoy small town hospitality and partake in nostalgic holiday activities.

Any individual who is entering in participating in Jingle Bell Shop can turn in receipts from a purchase made at a Ritzville business at the Ritzville Public Library and Ritzville City Hall. The raffle drawings occur on Fridays, and the last drawing will be December 21.

The Winter Fest activities are sponsored by the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce. For additional information regarding Winter Fest, visit http://www.ritzvillechamber.com or download the Ritzville Insider app.