It’s looking a lot like Christmas in Wallowa County, just in time for the 12th annual Enterprise Winterfest celebration Saturday, Dec. 5.

The city is all lit up in its “Home for the Holidays” décor, and plans a day full of festivities, topped off by the annual after-dark parade of lights and late night shopping.

Holiday Central, at the corner of Main and River Streets, will be open between noon and 7 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus plan to visit all the youngsters they can between noon and 3 p.m., and remind parents to bring along their cameras. There will also be a baked food sale while the Clauses chat with the kids.

Bailey Vernam will entertain at Holiday Central at 1 p.m. , and a Chili Feed, featuring Deb’s Famous Chili, will start at 4 p.m. Chili will be $3 a bowl. There will also be coffee, hot chocolate and cookies served during the afternoon at Holiday Central.

In the meantime, 12:30 p.m. the doors will open at OK Theatre, which will show Christmas cartoons from 1 to 3 p.m.; the cost is $2. And anyone who wants to ride in Harold and Pam Stitzel’s mule-drawn wagon can board at Ward Park all afternoon.

A chili feed will be held in the former Radio Shack building at 4 p.m. At that time people can sign up for a drawing for a girl’s and a boy’s toy-filled stocking, as well as hams and turkeys to be given after the parade.

Harold and Pam Stitzel offer mule-drawn wagon rides all afternoon as part of the day’s festivities. There will be burning barrels downtown to take the chill off the air as parade time approaches.

The parade is set to be on Main Street at 5:30 p.m., filled with holiday-themed floats, bicyclists and many other creative entries from businesses, organizations and individuals getting into the Christmas Spirit. Santa will be escorted in his sleigh by the Enterprise Fire Department. Parade entries are encouraged to come back to Main Street after the parade to let everyone get a closer look.

Parade entry forms should be turned in no later than noon to Joseph City Hall Friday, Dec. 4. Parade winners will be selected by popular vote, and everyone is encouraged to pick up their ballots at Deb’s Apparel, Holiday Central, Lear’s Pub, or The Bookloft to pick their favorite parade entry.

There will be drawings for Christmas Stockings and holiday hams and turkeys. Sign up during the day at Holiday Central, and the drawing for the winning tickets will be held after the parade at Deb’s Apparel. Must be present to win.

This year riders on the Holiday Bus Tour from La Grande – after spending the day in Enterprise and Joseph – will stay to enjoy the holiday parade.

After everything else is over, Winterfest-goers might enjoy a holiday movie, “A Christmas Carol” starring Jim Carrey, which is playing that weekend at OK Theatre; doors open at 7 p.m. and the movie starts at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to shopping at regular downtown Enterprise stores, Winterfest-goers are invited to check out vendors and exhibitors – including the hospital auxiliary’s See’s Candy booth – across the street from Holiday Central. Eastern Oregon Nursery and Landscaping also plans to have a Christmas tree lot on Main Streets.

For information: 426-3271 or 426-6210.