The home stretch of the holiday season starts right after Thanksgiving Day when the annual Christmas at the End of the Road celebration lights up Winthrop with festivities and fireworks.
The events — all free — begin on Nov. 28 with storytelling by Granny Winthrop (Georgia Sanders) at Trail’s End Bookstore from 2 – 4 p.m. That night, Morning Glory Balloon Tours will illuminate Riverside Avenue with a “balloon glow” from 5 – 6 p.m.
Nov. 29 starts out with a 1-kilometer fun run at 11 a.m., followed by a 5K run at 11:15 a.m. No registration is necessary. Participants are encouraged to donate one canned food item that will go to The Cove Food Bank in Twisp.
Santa makes his arrival at noon. At 1 p.m. the Children’s Winter Fest begins at the Winthrop Barn, where Santa will have his photo taken with the kids, courtesy of Winthrop Kiwanis. There will be hot chocolate, cookies, hot dogs and chili available for sale from the Winthrop Auditorium Association. The fest lasts until 4 p.m., and there will be tractor-pulled wagon rides between downtown and the Barn during the event.
Starting at 3 p.m., the burn barrels will be fired up on Riverside Avenue, sponsored by the Methow Valley Snowmobile Association. There will also be caroling on Riverside Avenue from 3 – 5 p.m. Participants should gather at Town Hall.
The traditional town lighting will be at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m. (weather permitting), the bluff west of downtown will light up with the annual fireworks extravaganza, organized by Doug Mohre of Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe and sponsored by Winthrop Evergreen IGA. Other local contributors include Aspen Grove, Brandenburg Construction, Chewuch Inn & Cabins, Courtyard Quail, French Quail, Hotel Rio Vista, Pardners Mini Market and River’s Edge Resort.
Donations to support the fireworks show can be sent to the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 39, Winthrop 98862.
For more information, call 996-2125.
