(2009 photo of mule carriage in The Junction)
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS: Today and the next two Sundays are full of Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) excitement in The Junction. Starting at 11 am, you can get a photo with Santa Claus at Donna Ryan Photography ($15 donation goes to WestSide Baby) and ride a mule-drawn carriage (free – catch it by Hometown Holidays HQ outside KeyBank), plus face-painting courtesy of Pathfinder K-8 (purveyors of the famous handmade wreaths). The West Seattle Farmers’ Market is open for business 10 am-2 pm as always. And at 1 pm, join us at Hometown Holidays HQ to honor the latest recipients of the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards (as announced here). While you’re in The Junction, you can enter the $4,600 Hometown Holidays Raffle – with more than two dozen participating merchants (listed here).

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS TODAY: 3 WSB sponsors are having open-house events: Savor “The Flavor of the Season” with special food tastings/demonstrations at Metropolitan Market, noon-5 pm … Wyatt’s Jewelers in Westwood Village has an open house 1-4 pm … And Forest Lawn invites you to a holiday celebration starting at 4 pm, with a string quartet and catered goodies … Also: The community is invited to the annual Christmas Party at Alki Masonic Hall (4736 40th Av. SW), 3-5 pm – free Santa pictures, magic show, food, games, gifts for the kids … Watch a gingerbread-house-building competition at West Seattle Christian Church, 5 pm … Gingerbread houses are also part of the plan this morning at Fauntleroy Church, where the annual Advent Pageant is part of the 10 am service; Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) has a special holiday service too, 10 am, with the “Hanging of the Greens” … Westwood Village‘s Santa House is open again today, noon-4 pm (bring food-bank donations for photos, and diaper donations for WS Baby, too) … Details, and even MORE holiday happenings, on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page (updated at least once daily, with more events and services as we get word of them)!