December
2016
Business Connection
Volume 8, Issue 12
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
The Home for the Holidays parade draws families to downtown Longview.
Holiday season launches with parade and tree lighting M
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Team Bill Marcum, CEO Lindsey Cope, Project Manager Amy Hallock, Bookkeeper Kelso Longview Business Connection is published monthly by the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce 105 N. Minor Road • Kelso, WA 98626 • 360-423-8400 kelsolongviewchamber.org To advertise, call Bill Marcum, 360-423-8400 or email bmarcum@ kelsolongviewchamber.org Ad Deadline: 20th of each month
arching bands, dance troupes, horses and the star of the season, Santa Claus, are part of the holiday hoopla planned as part of the Longview 36th annual Home for the Holidays parade and Civic Circle tree lighting at 5 p.m. December 3.
Kelso Tree Lighting Festival features family fun and Santa at Train Depot
Last year, the parade found itself without its longtime organizer when Arlene Hubbel retired. The Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce, Cowlitz PUD and Longview Downtowners decided to continue, with the PUD taking the lead.
The City of Kelso’s annual Tree Lighting Festival will light up downtown Kelso for the holidays on December 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Kelso Train Depot. This year’s theme is "Christmas in Toyland" and headlines another year of music, games, and festivities for the whole family.
“It just seemed liked a duplicated effort by so many people and we felt we could really streamline the process,” said Alice Dietz, communication and public relations manager for Cowlitz PUD As a large, community-centered business, Dietz points out the PUD has resources at its fingertips. Resources to round up more volunteers, pulling from its 160 families, and departments that can produce parade route maps and create an online entry process and database. “Each year it’s going to get easier,” said Dietz, whose committee begins work in July. “The hardest part is Saturday evening.” That’s when Dietz and many of those volunteers go into action to get the parade entries rolling down Commerce Avenue. If parade entries are any indication of bigger and For more Parade, see page 3
Kelso Mayor David Futcher will light the Christmas Tree sitting atop the Train Depot’s clock tower at 6:10 p.m. (courtesy of Campbell Crane). The evening will include Christmas music, refreshments, games along with prizes, crafts, face painting, a hayride, and cookie decorating. Additionally, Santa Claus will make a special pre-Christmas visit early in the evening to tidy up his list of Kelso’s naughty and nice. For additional information please visit the City’s website www.kelso.gov or contact Cindy Donaldson at 360-577-3390 or cdonaldson@ kelso.gov