Communities get festive next week for holiday season

November 28, 2008 12:43 pm

Festive moods will be in full bloom next week when Maple Valley, Covington and Black Diamond are the scenes of community holiday events.

Maple Valley will stage its annual Holiday Lights at the Lodge, Covington will unveil a new community tree and two-day festival, and Black Diamond will light up its holiday evergreen. Here’s the schedule, by community:

• Maple Valley: Holiday Lights at the Lodge, Dec. 3, 6 p.m., Lake Wilderness Lodge at Lake Wilderness Park. A tree-lighting, lighted displays at the neighboring Lake Wilderness Arboretum, snacks, entertainment and a visit from Santa Claus are among the scheduled activities for the free event organized through the city. Canned-food and cash donations for Maple Valley Food Bank will be accepted.

Additional information is available at www.ci.maple-valley.wa.us.

• Covington: Planned for Dec. 5 as part of the new Covington Hollydaze festival are a Christmas bazaar at City Hall from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., family crafts and snacks at Covington Library from 6 to 6:45 p.m., and the annual community tree-lighting at 7:30 p.m. The new tree is in the middle of a traffic roundabout near the Fred Meyer store.

Activities on Dec. 6 will include a Santa breakfast at St. John the Baptist Church at 9 or 10:30 a.m., a giant slingshot near Home Depot store from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for launching fruitcakes at a target ($2 per launch or three for $5; proceeds benefit Maple Valley Food Bank’s holiday toy and gift program).

Also included in the activities will be a Tickle Toon Typhoon concert at Covington Library at 11 a.m., and at 6 p.m., kids can hang out at Covington Aquatic Center while parents get some shopping done (games and structured activities, holiday movies and free gifts for the kids; $3.25 for Covington residents, $3.50 for non-residents. Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult).

Tickets for either of the two sittings are $4 for adults and $2 for children and can be purchased at Covington Aquatic Center or www.covingtonhollydaze.com.

• Black Diamond: The community tree-lighting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Black Diamond Community Center. Caroling, pictures with Santa, cocoa and cookies will be part of the festivities. Additional information is available at (360) 886-1011.