Looking for ideas to jingle all the way this season in Northwest Oklahoma? Many rural towns are hosting holiday cheer through lighted Christmas parades, tree lighting ceremonies, Santa sightings, and more. Here are a few on the NWOKBuzz.com calendar:
WAYNOKA: Santa Claus is coming to downtown Waynoka today (Nov. 30). He arrives around 5 p.m. That’s when festivities start too, including a chicken noodle dinner and scavenger hunt. Lil’ Mr. and Miss Snowflake Contest is tonight at 5:30 p.m. The lighted parade begins at 6 p.m. followed by the tree lighting, and then fireworks.
POND CREEK: Celebrate Christmas in downtown Pond Creek on Dec. 1. Pond Creek-Hunter parents will host a fundraising soup and chili dinner starting at 4:30 p.m. at The Rooftop. Christmas lights parade is 6 p.m.; enter to win cash prizes for best lighted float. Tree lighting follows after the parade and several businesses will be open for holiday shopping.
ENID: The One tree will be lit up Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. in downtown Enid. Food trucks arrive at 4 p.m. with a preshow concert at 5:30 p.m. If you’re looking for a fresh-cut Christmas tree, look no further than Red Bird Farm, north of Enid on Hwy 81.
GUYMON: Lighting of Sunset Lake at Sunset Park in Guymon is Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. The evening includes food trucks, vendors, choirs and bands in concert, and free train rides.
SHATTUCK: Shattuck Chamber of Commerce presents its annual Christmas parade on Dec. 4 with the theme of Christmas Around the World.
DEER CREEK: From now until the weekend before Christmas, Deer Creek Merchantile in downtown Deer Creek has decorated like an old-fashioned Christmas department store for visitors to be nostalgic while they shop.
LAHOMA: Starting in December, people can drive out to Stabe and Purdue north of Lahoma to The Porch (Wehrman Farms) and see the huge drive-thru Christmas light display.
ALVA: Alva Chamber of Commerce invites you to come Home for the Holidays this weekend. Beginning at 4 p.m. Dec. 6 and ending at 7 p.m. Dec. 8, there will be numerous activities in downtown Alva including shopping, Christmas productions, festive food, and of course, Santa.
MOORELAND: Friday nights in December at 5 p.m. are hayrides to see the Christmas lights in Mooreland, starting at Mooreland City Hall. Public voting will commence during the hayrides to culminate with winners announced at the Christmas parade, which is Dec. 21 at 5 p.m.
WOODWARD: Take a stroll or drive through Crystal Beach Park, 305 Temple Houston Drive, Woodward. Crystal Christmas is open every night in December from 6-10 p.m. to see millions of lights and hundreds of displays. Every Friday and Saturday in the park enjoy Kiwanis train rides at the Bentec Crystal Square Train Station from 6-8 p.m. for $1 per person. Every Saturday there are free horse-drawn carriage rides through the park from 6-8 PM. On Dec. 7, there will be food trucks, axe throwing, holiday activities, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and more. Also, Woodward Arts Theatre presents the annual Christmas Tour of Homes Dec. 8 throughout Woodward. Mingle, jingle, and get your maps at 1:30 p.m. at Josie Adams Centre, 816 Main, before tours start at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 each and benefit the theatre.
WAUKOMIS: The Waukomis Welcomes Christmas celebration kicks off Dec. 7 at 8 a.m. in downtown Waukomis with tree decorating and a silent auction. There will be entertainment throughout the morning and a movie in the afternoon at the chapel. Games, carriage rides, food trucks, vendors, and Christmas village activities will be throughout the day. The pet Christmas costume contest is at noon and the Christmas parade begins at 3 p.m.
FREEDOM: The town of Freedom is getting in the Christmas spirit. Residents are encouraged to decorate their homes for the holidays to be entered to win cash; judging takes place Dec. 6 and winners will be announced during the Santa Day Celebration on Dec. 8. In downtown Freedom on Dec. 6 will be the annual tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. followed by caroling and refreshments at the Carriage House on east Main. Santa Day Celebration begins at noon in downtown Freedom with a silent auction and chili cookoff as well as raffles and drawings. Games start at 1 p.m. followed by Santa’s arrival at 3 p.m.
FAIRVIEW: The Jingle Mingle Major County Christmas kicks off Dec. 7 with a craft show at the Fairview Community Center (not far from Hwy 58 on East Broadway) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Outdoor festivities begin at 4 p.m. with a variety of children’s activities, pictures with Santa, caroling, sidewalk vendors, and food trucks. At dark, tree lighting on community center lawn is followed by the lighted parade, and ends with fireworks.
NESCATUNGA: Christmas at the Salt Plains is Dec. 7 from 5-7 p.m. in the Salt Plains State Park Community Center, which is located off Hwy 38 on the south side of the lake. Evening includes creating fingerpaint ornaments, bird seed pinecones, paper chain garlands, clothes pin reindeers, and pinecone Christmas trees along with taking pictures with Santa and the Grinch, eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate, and watching the tree lighting. Admission is free.
CHEROKEE: Cherokee Main Street hosts its annual Christmas parade and tree lighting Dec. 11 starting at 7 p.m. on the south side of town on Hwy 64.
TEXHOMA: Texhoma Christmas parade is Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. in downtown Texhoma, along Hwy 54 in the panhandle at the Oklahoma/Texas border. Following the lights parade, everyone is invited to meet at the town library to Santa, have snacks, and check out books.
DOUGLAS: Red Carpet Theater presents the real Christmas story Dec. 13-15 at the Douglas church, 203 Commercial, Douglas. Admission to this children’s play is free. Showings are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
WAKITA: Santa Claus is coming to Wakita Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. He will be at the Wakita Fire Department. Hosted by Wakita Lions Club, there will be cookies and hot chocolate plus drawings for turkey and ham giveaways.