WinterFest brings holiday cheer

WinterFest in downtown Aberdeen kicked off on Monday with the Gingerbread Decorating contest, continues on Friday with the new Trolley Express Christmas light tour with cookies and cocoa, and then on Saturday explodes with Christmas cheer with Breakfast with Santa, the Holiday Market and the Gingerbread House Contest.

This is all free thanks to two angel/elves named Bette Worth and Bobbi McCracken, who are in their ninth year of putting on this free holiday extravaganza celebration. You can spot Bette and Bobbi by their matching holiday garb.

“I love to wear costumes, and we have a lot of costumes,” Bette said. “More than the costumes, I like the innocence of the children — it’s for the kids.”

Bette said lodging tax dollars approved by the city and sponsorships make this family-focused event possible. Bette also enjoys the Gingerbread House Contest. WinterFest costs about $12,000 to put on each year.

“It’s really fun to see what they create,” Bette said. “And then again, the breakfast is fabulous, it’s for kids. Santa is there. Breakfast is pancakes and ham and milk. There’s also games, crafts and (writing) letters to Santa.

“WinterFest should kick off your holidays,” Bobbi said, adding her favorite part is, “You see people you don’t see the rest of the year.”

For the Holiday Market, sponsor TwinStar Credit Union has donated big red shopping bags for the first 300 people. Bette and Bobbi expect to see about 2,000 people attend WinterFest this year.

Each year Bette and Bobbi try to add something new to WinterFest. This year, it is a free Trolley Express on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., complete with Santa, a singing elf, cookies and cocoa and a 15-minute tour up on Broadway Hill to view the majestic homes lit up for the holidays. The trolley holds about 20 people and is quaint with wooden seats.

Bette added they couldn’t put on WinterFest without the scores of volunteers. Bette and Bobbi start on WinterFest in late summer. After WinterFest, it’s time to enjoy the rest of the holiday season.

“It’s pure joy — exhaustion and pure joy,” Bobbi said. “There’s satisfaction that we created an event people will enjoy, but it is exhausting.”

Bette said sometimes people just use Aberdeen as a highway to the beaches. Sometimes people get a bit down about the Harbor town.

“This community means a lot to us,” Bette said. “Our whole purpose is to prove (the naysayers) wrong. This community does come together.”

Raffle tickets

Don’t forget to buy your WinterFest raffle tickets for a donation of $5. Prizes include a $700 power recliner (donated by Foothills Family Furniture), a $500 Ocean Shores getaway (overnight at the Quinault Beach Resort & Casino with dinner at Emily’s, dinner at La Spiaggia, a $50 certificate from Ocean Shores Cinema, $25 for candy and $25 from Ocean Shores Kites), His and Hers Baskets valued at $400 each, and a Kids Basket worth $150.

Trolley Express

New to WinterFest this year is the Trolley Express on Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. The free tour is about 15 minutes long, includes Santa and a singing elf, and shows of the Christmas light displays up on Broadway Hill.

Breakfast and free pictures with Santa

Bring your child to Messy Jessy’s (212 South I St.) the morning of Saturday, Dec. 7 for a free breakfast of pancakes with plenty of syrup, ham and milk with Santa. They can also get a free picture with Santa from Moyer Multi Media. Breakfast and pictures are from 9 to 11 a.m.

The Holiday Market

The holiday market on Saturday has become a tradition in downtown Aberdeen. It will be located in the D&R Event center (112 E. Heron St.). Vendors and artisans from all over will set up and have unique things for your holiday gifts. Come support local people and businesses. The market is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Gingerbread House Contest

Gingerbread houses were being built on Monday, delivered to WinterFest on Thursday, judged on Friday and displayed on Saturday. Cash prizes for first, second and third places in several categories will be awarded at the end of WinterFest on Saturday. To view the gingerbread houses (from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), go to Get the Pho building at 100 E. Heron St.