The Redmond Chamber of Commerce & CVB invites you to celebrate the holiday season with a host of delightful family friendly events, all set in Redmond’s colorfully decorated downtown.
Join in the fun with the Starlight Parade, meet Santa at the Community Tree Lighting, shop the Holiday Village Market, experience the joy of giving with the Giving Tree, stroll the Downtown Holiday Open House and admire the delectable creativity at the Gingerbread House Contest. Every weekend from Thanksgiving through Christmas, downtown Redmond will entice you with fun holiday festivities, all situated in Redmond’s charming downtown corridor.
Below is a summary of Redmond holiday events taking place this year:
Holiday Village Market
Friday-Saturday, Nov. 25-26; Saturdays, Dec. 3 & 10 • 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
at Centennial Park, Redmond
Come stroll the vendors at the festive Holiday Village Market in Centennial Park and enjoy the ambiance of this charming from old-world-styled kiosks all centered around the Redmond Christmas tree. Discover the ideal gifts and something for that hard-to-buy person on your list as you visit with local vendors selling their wonderful arts, crafts and artisan goods. The Redmond Chamber of Commerce & CVB, will host the Holiday Village Market four days throughout the holiday season, Nov. 25-26; Saturdays, Dec. 3 & 10 • 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.. For more information, visit www.visitredmondoregon.com/Holiday-Village-Market or call the chamber at 541-923-5191.
The Giving Tree
Beginning Friday, Nov. 25
Green Plow Coffee Roasters, Redmond
Beginning on Friday, Nov. 25th, the community has an opportunity to help make Christmas a little brighter for Redmond-area children and teens by picking a tag (or multiple tags) from the Giving Tree, located at Green Plow Coffee Roasters (436 SW 6th St.) in downtown Redmond. The Redmond Chamber of Commerce is pleased to offer this long standing tradition, and with your help, approximately 150 children and 75 families will have a brighter holiday season. Gifts for the Giving Tree are due by Monday, Dec. 12th. For more information, contact the Redmond Chamber of Commerce at 541-923-5191.
Santa’s Mailbox
Friday, Nov. 25 – Saturday, Dec. 24
Outside Green Plow Coffee Roasters, Redmond
Santa’s Mailbox, a connection to the North Pole for children wishing to pass along their wish lists to jolly old St. Nick, will again be placed outside of Green Plow Coffee Roasters (436 SW 6th St.) in downtown Redmond – near the base of Redmond’s archway. Letters will be accepted from Friday, Nov. 25th through Christmas Eve. The Redmond Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the Santa’s Mailbox program, will collect the letters, some of which may be published in the Redmond Spokesman. All letters will be posted on the Redmond Chamber’s Facebook site. For more information, contact the Redmond Chamber of Commerce at 541-923-5191.
Redmond Starlight Christmas Parade/Community Tree Lighting
Saturday, Nov. 26, 5 p.m.
Downtown Redmond
The Redmond Chamber of Commerce and CVB is pleased to announce the theme of this year’s St. Charles Redmond – Starlight Parade is “We are Santa’s Elves”! This theme comes from the popular 1964 Christmas classic, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, and was actually a catchy tune created by the elves to sing to Santa. At first Santa was a little grumpy, but he quickly warmed up to the tune. We hope you have fun with the theme, and we do want to warn you that the tune does get stuck in your head after listening to it.
The Starlight Parade is FREE to enter and will take place, Saturday, November 26th (the Saturday AFTER Thanksgiving) at 5:00 p.m., in downtown Redmond on 6th St., from Dogwood to Forest. Following the parade, Redmond’s community Christmas tree lighting will take place at Centennial Park. The evening will include food, drink, and music. For more information, including an application for free parade entry, visit www.visitredmondoregon.com/Starlight-Parade, or call the Redmond Chamber at 541-923-5191.
Downtown Redmond Charm Stroll, Girl Scout Blessing Bags and Visit Santa Claus
Saturday, Dec. 10, 12 noon – 4 p.m.
Downtown Redmond
Downtown Redmond businesses will be abuzz with the holiday spirit, offering refreshments, music, special events and a downtown Charm Stroll on Saturday, Dec. 10th, 12 noon to 4 p.m. Among the many holiday adventures, kids young and old can visit and get their pictures taken with Santa at Green Plow Coffee Roaster located at 436 SW 6th St. The Charm Stroll organized by the Redmond Chamber of Commerce with the downtown merchants once again are working with the Girl Scouts to help make over 100 “Blessing Bags” for homeless people in the Redmond area. To participate in the Charm Stroll, we are asking individuals to bring donations such as socks, shampoos, gloves, toiletries, or cash donations, to Herringbone Books (422 SW 6th St). These donations will help complete the Blessing Bags that Girl Scout Troops 50049, 50064 and 10772 will make and deliver the bags to the Redmond Police Station, St. Vincent DePaul, NeighborImpact, and Redmond VFW. Each participant will then receive a Charm Stroll passport that lists all participating merchants. After collecting charms, folks can bring them to David Haffey Fine Jewelry or Every Bloom’n Thing on Sixth Street to have the charms placed on bracelets for $10.00. For more information, contact the Redmond Chamber at 541-923-5191.
Gingerbread House Contest
Saturday, Dec. 10
Downtown Redmond Businesses
The Redmond Downtown Association, with the help of the Redmond Chamber of Commerce & CVB, invite you to participate in the fourth annual Gingerbread House Contest. Back by popular demand, this fun and festive contest is meant for families, businesses and kids of all ages. It is a wonderful tradition for families everywhere, and a great way for you to showcase your creativity, humor and love for the Christmas season.
The contest is open to the public, with entries displayed in various businesses in and around downtown Redmond. This year the categories are being expanded to include Elementary, Middle and High School classroom group and individual age entries. Other judging categories will be adult, children, family and professional/business. For more information, or to obtain an entry form, contact organizer Cheriee Perrine at 541-504-4544 or Karen Sande at the Redmond Chamber of Commerce at 541-923-5191.
Downtown Redmond Open House
Saturday, Dec. 17
Downtown Redmond Businesses
Holiday shoppers can take advantage of great sales, light refreshments, and special activities for the young and old; such as story time at Herringbone Books. If you need to finish some shopping without your kids, bring them to Desert Song Community Church for free daycare in a safe environment. Kids will be entertained with crafts and games.
Redmond Ice Skating Rink
Starting Friday, Nov. 18 through February 26, 2017
Downtown Redmond Plaza, Across from Centennial Park
Strap on a pair of ice skates and start a new winter tradition this season at the Redmond Ice Skating Rink, once again set in the Downtown Redmond Plaza on 7th Street across from Centennial Park. Thanks to the City of Redmond and the Redmond Area Parks and Recreation District (RAPRD), people of all ages and levels can enjoy this traditional winter activity throughout the winter season, weather permitting. For additional information, contact the rink at 541-977-7841, or the RAPRD office at 541-548-7275.
