WE SCENE IT >>>

Holiday festivities were in full swing yesterday at Olympia's "Downtown for the Holidays" celebration. It wasn't raining - which brought plenty of people - but they were bundled up in knit hats, ski jackets and gloves because it was colder than a witch's tit. 

Despite the cold, the vibe was warm with an elaborate parade that included holiday decorated Old-Timey cars. Excited families piled into Clydesdale-drawn buggies.

After the parade, a curious looking Christmas tree called for attention. Note: Am I allowed to call it a Christmas tree after that conundrum at the Capitol in 2009 between atheists and the state to discontinue any "religious" displays? Perhaps I should refer to it as a "holiday" tree so I don't get wheatpasted.

Anyhoo, the tree was a huge, brightly lit stage. It came with a ladder hidden so 20 or so kids could climbed up and embed themselves among the limbs, just their heads poking out as animated decorations. The kids proceeded to sing all the merriment of seasonal carols. It was highly entertaining, with one little boy - all the way on top - performing a little disco number with his finger pointed in the air, his face all smiles.

Over at The Olympia Ballroom inside the Urban Onion - above an overly long line of surprisingly well-behaved, patient children waiting to sit in Santa's lap - was the South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity's 5th annual Gingerbread Cottages Competition. The competition was fierce this year with elaborately decorated castles, complete with sugar-stained glass windows, a venetian building designed with the architecture of old and a playful rendition of the classic kid's game, Candy Land. But, perhaps my favorite was the Christmas Story display. It had no house, castle or hut, but bore the leg lamp that made Ralphie's dad look like a perv, and the box lid that read "fragile" that made Ralphie's dad look like an idiot. The leg had thin black licorice whips wrapped around to create fishnet leggings! Genius.

The finale of the event was the tree lighting in Sylvester Park, which was fun to count down, but a little janky looking and not nearly as dramatic as the "holiday" tree stage that held the kid's choir.

All in all, it was a nice event, and the kids were tuckered out and ready for bed when we got home, which meant mommy and daddy had a little seasonal celebration of their own involving hot coco and whiskey - always a plus. 

Thanks Olympia!

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