KELSEYVILLE — Small town living can offer big benefits, such as scant traffic and smog.
On Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Main Street in Kelseyville holiday revelers can celebrate during the Christmas in the Country Merchant Open House and Parade of Lights, an annual small town event that features big ideas and huge community attendance.
Every Christmas season the Kelseyville Business Association rings in the holidays with an old-fashioned Christmas in the country. Mary Morse of Kelseyville encourages people to come for “some down-home country hospitality and the best light show this side of the constellation Orion.” Morse added, “The spirit of spontaneity may be a part of what makes the combined parade and open-house so charming.”
Prior to the event at 5 p.m., Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, located at 5340 Third St. (behind Westamerica Bank), will hold its annual chowder and chili dinner. St. Peter”s Catholic Church, located at 4085 Main St., will have hot dogs, beans, coffee, hot cocoa and other snacks.
Kelseyville United Methodist and Unitarian Universalist Community, located at 3810 Main St., will also have free treats and holiday singing and requests that people bring canned food or a donation to help support holiday food baskets for Lake County families in need.
Holiday music will begin at 5:30 p.m. Shop owners will have their doors open to welcome attendees with treats and warm beverages.
The parade of Lights will begin at 6:30 p.m. with Santa. Numerous floats will be featured in the parade.
After the parade, Santa will light the town Christmas tree in front of the Kelseyville Fire House.
Santa will then venture across the street to Westamerica Bank where he will be available for photos taken by Dawn Smith of Color Splash Photos. Smith donates the proceeds from the photos to Lake County foster children. David Neft will play music and the Sweet Adelines will be caroling.
After the parade Kelsey Creek Brewing will have live music, Studebakers Coffee House features special holiday drinks, the Sawshop Gallery Bistro will have wine and complimentary cookies, Wildhurst Tasting Room will have mulled wine and cookies and Rosa d” Oro Tasting Room will offer Italian cookies and mulled Muscato.?
For information or to be in the parade, call Morse at 279-8559.
Painting by Carloyn Morris
Christmas in the Country will be held Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Main Street in Kelseyville.
