By Vicki Hillhouse
What do you get when a homespun holiday kickoff in a picturesque town pairs with a celebration of world-class wine and food? A packed weekend with something for everyone.
Two longstanding Walla Walla traditions combine Dec. 6-8 for a reimagined Holiday Barrel Weekend. Wend your way through new vintages and savor a slew of family-friendly activities anchored in a dazzling downtown Walla Walla.
The weekend’s events include an annual auction and wine reception, barrel tasting at local wineries, a downtown holiday market and festival retailers, wine tasting and local vendor gifts in Westside tasting rooms, and Saturday night’s community tree lighting and more than 100-entry strong holiday parade.
“It’s a weekend not to be missed,” notes Walla Walla Valley Wine Executive Director Liz Knapke. “Whether you’re a local or visiting, we have a robust schedule of events for all ages.”
Friday night brings the Barrel Full of Money community event featuring Seattle’s DJ Michele Myers from ‘KEXP Friday Night Dance Part’ along with fun, exciting ways for guests to engage throughout the evening. This festive atmosphere will enhance the auction and wine reception, creating opportunities for guests to connect, enjoy music, and make lasting memories, all while giving back to the community through a broad range of contribution levels.
On Saturday, the Holiday Fair & Market at The Motor Co. will take place with live music, photos with Santa, an assortment of vendors selling holiday wares, and seasonal mulled wine and cider, and hot cocoa. That joins the existing Persistent Local Market across the street at the Showroom on Colville, where local vendors specialize in food and artisan goods.
In the heart of downtown at Walawàla Plaza, First Avenue and Main Street, the tree lighting ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. The plaza is a great spot to catch the annual Holiday Parade of Lights that the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation organizes. The parade features a wide variety of lighted entries and travels east on Alder to Spokane Street and then heads to Main Street where it ends at Sixth Avenue.
In the meantime, here’s what to expect for this year’s schedule:
Friday, Dec. 6:
- Barrel Full of Money auction and community event to support Blue Mountain Action Council Food Bank at The Motor Co., 64 E. Rose St., 6-9 p.m. KEXP DJ Michele Myers will host the pairing of festivities, Walla Walla Valley wines and delicious menu crafted by TMACS. Tickets are available here.
- The Gesa Power House Theater, 111 N. 6th Ave., welcomes A Celtic Christmas at 7 p.m. This magical concert will feature much loved Celtic and Christmas classics. Tickets are available at phtww.org.
Saturday, Dec. 7:
- Persistent Local Market, an indoor market of local food, produce and artisan vendors, 70 N. Colville St., 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Holiday Fair & Market, an indoor event with holiday vendors, live music, Santa and more, takes place at The Motor Co., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Tree-lighting ceremony, Walawàla Plaza, First Avenue and Main Street, 5 p.m.
- Holiday Parade of Lights, which draws 6,000 spectators and more than 100 participants, illuminaties the streets of downtown Walla Walla starting at 6 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 8:
Additional community events be found on Visit Walla Walla’s Event Calendar:
- The Gesa Power House Theater brings Little Watts: Holiday Shorts, a collection of family-friendly holiday short films, at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at phtww.org.
- Feast of Carols community concert at Cordiner Hall on the Whitman College campus from 3 – 7 p.m.
