A Victorian Country Christmas Festival, 2009, Puyallup

• What: Step back into the world of Charles Dickens as the  Fairgrounds in Puyallup, Washington are magically transformed into a 19th century a Victorian village of old-fashioned streets lined with over 530 Victorian stores, tended by shopkeepers in Victorian attire. Visit the Holiday Jubilee Theater and see elaborate stage shows and concerts every hour on the hour including: Stardust Follies, The Silver Spurs Country Western Revue, the Singing Nativity and more. Every show at A Victorian Country Christmas is FREE with admission!

• Where: Western Washington Fairgrounds, Puyallup, WA [map]

• When: December 2-5, 10:00am-9:00pm | December 6, 10:00am-6:00pm

• Admission: Adults: $9.50 | Seniors (62+): $8.00 | Students (6 – 18): $8.00 | Military w/ ID: $8.00 | Kids 5 & under are FREE | Groups Specials available | Purchase advance tickets online.
  

• Parking: FREE

For more information, see the official website

Holiday Bazaars, Christmas Trees

River's Edge Tree Farm

The Bellingham Herald has just published an excellent printable calendar (PDF file) of Whatcom County Holiday Bazaars which may be accessed here. I’m also placing a link in the “Local Links” section on the sidebar.

Before you know it, it will be time to start thinking about Christmas Trees! My updated list of Whatcom and Skagit County Christmas Tree Farms is located here, and is linked from the “Pages” section of the sidebar, as well.

2009 Holiday Calendar Up

The Christmas Calendar covers events in both the Whatcom County area and throughout Western Washington, with occasional listings from lower mainland British Columbia. Calendar listings will increase with time as information on events becomes available, so check back often.

I will be happy to list your holiday event, or events which you have heard about, on the calendar if you send all the pertinent details in an e-mail to simplyxmas09@gmail.com.

The calendar may be accessed in the right sidebar.

Tacoma Holiday Food & Gift Festival, Oct. 21-25, 2009

• What: One of largest holiday gift shows in the United States, with more than 600 displays and exhibits: arts and crafts, gifts, gourmet food and live entertainment. Limited daycare  is available, courtesy of Child’s Time, Inc., daily at no charge. Convenient, on-site parking at the Tacoma Dome.

• Where: Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA [map]

• When: Wednesday, October 21, 11:00am – 7:00 pm
  • Thursday, October 22, 10:00am – 7:00 pm
  • Friday, October 23,  10:00am – 9:00 pm
  • Saturday, October 24, 10:00am – 9:00 pm
  • Sunday, October 25,  10:00am – 6:00 pm
• For more information, see the official website.

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• Tip:  Even if you don’t buy a single thing, gift shows such as this are great places to get ideas for do-it-yourself holiday projects.

Bob Dylan Sings Old Christmas Standards

Editor’s note: Regardless of Entertainment Weekly’s jaded take on Bob Dylan’s album of Christmas standards, we’ll give Bob an A for Christmas Spirit.

Story via Entertainment Weekly

Bob Dylan Does Christmas: Hark, the wheezing geezer sings

by Joseph Brannigan Lynch

Over the years, Christmas-themed horror films have fruitlessly tried to imbue the altruistic joy of the holidays with terror and discomfort.

Santa chopping off a tobogganer’s head with an axe in 1984’s Silent Night, Deadly Night? That’s just a reindeer game. A wheezy, 68-year-old Bob Dylan recording an album of Christmas standards? Backed by singers whose overt enthusiasm makes the Andrews Sisters sound moody? That’s not how you deck the halls….

Read more

CHANGES

In the next few weeks, don’t be surprised if things around here get a little funky; I’ll be cleaning up and changing a variety of things on the site, in preparation for this year’s holiday season.

“Valley Winter Song” – Fountains of Wayne

“Christmastime”

Now that it’s Christmastime
Won’t you please forgive the tearful eye?
Please forgive the shabby man on the street.
Now that we’re almost there,
On the verge of another year,
Please forgive the tattered shoes on his feet…

Hey, don’t you look away,
This can’t wait for another day.
Hey, don’t you look away,
This can’t wait for Christmas Day.

On Christmas Day we gather ’round the table,
Say the requisite Grace, with a happy face,
And wish goodwill upon the Human Race.

Now that it’s New Year’s Eve,
Won’t you please forgive the poor, who grieve?
Take a bite, and wipe your mouth on your sleeve.
Now that it’s almost here,
Raise your cup, be of good cheer,
Close your eyes and try to forget the fear…

Hey, don’t you look away,
This can’t wait for another day.
Hey, don’t you look away,
This can’t wait for New Year’s Day.

On New Year’s Eve we gather in the evening,
Drink the sparkling wine, sing Auld Lang Syne,
Make resolutions till we’re feeling fine.

Through every Christmas Day, and
Festive New Year’s Eve
My friend, I’m sad to say
There’s been a shadow, doggin’ me
And it’s
still
right
there.

- Rod Brock, 1997

Tis the season…for CHIA PETS!

But methinks you will not find this one on the shelf at your local Walmart. It probably would sell very well – although licensing issues might be thorny.

“Men may talk of Country-Christmasses”

Men may talk of country-Christmasses and court-gluttony,
Their thirty-pound* buttered eggs, their pies of carp’s tongues,
Their pheasants drenched with ambergris, the carcases
Of three fat wethers bruised for gravy, to
Make sauce for a single peacock; yet their feasts
Were fasts, compared with the city’s…

Did you not observe it?
There were three sucking pigs served up in a dish,
Ta’en from the sow as soon as farrowed,
A fortnight fed with dates and muskadine,
That stood my master in twenty marks apiece,
Besides the puddings in their bellies, made
Of I know not what. — I dare swear the cook that dressed it
Was the devil, disguised like a Dutchman.

Phillip Massinger (1583-1640)

*About 240 eggs