Welcome to the Holiday Season! It’s a beautiful crisp December here in Eugene. We are looking forward to enjoying the holidays with our families. There are so many wonderful things to do this month. We thought we would highlight some of our favorites!
Adults
Nothing says “Festive” like getting together with friends over good food. Whether you want to enjoy a hearty meal out with friends and family, or entertain at home – there are many options available in the Willamette Valley this holiday season. Find a holiday meal option at: https://www.eugenecascadescoast.org/restaurants/holidays/holiday-christmas/
If you’re planning to cook, stop by the Holiday Fair at the fairgrounds for winter squashes, sweet potatoes and other locally-grown produce. You can purchase your bird of choice or a holiday ham. Plan your meal around our local harvest. Or reach out to market vendors and local growers for suggestions.
Children
The holidays provide opportunities for gift-giving. Nobody will be as joyful to receive as kids. They love tearing open their wrapping paper to see what is underneath. Even if the gift itself is inexpensive the kids do not really seem to mind. At Red Umbrella Services we are very grateful to have a young child (our son Zealand) to remind us of the real meaning and joy of the holiday season.
Families
One of the most traditional ways for the whole family to enjoy Christmas is with the annual showing of “The Nutracker”. This year, “The Nutracker” will be at The Hult Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets start at $33 and the Hult will have a free holiday concert before the performance on Sunday, December 24th. The concert begins at noon).
The Nutcracker Ballet has been performed since Christmas of 1892 when it debuted at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. The beloved Christmas tale is about a girl named Clara and the Christmas when she comes of age. The Nutcracker first was performed in the U.S. in 1944 by the San Francisco Ballet and has become an American favorite. Children especially delight in the costumes of the beloved ballet.
Whether you’re resuming a long-held family tradition or starting a new one, this time of year is mostly about celebrating with those that we love. There are many families who may not be able to celebrate. They might need help with providing a warm holiday meal to their families. For a list of resources in the area where you can get donations of food, go to http://www.lanekids.org/10-local-food-resources-for-families-you-might-not-know-about/. You can also contact any of the organizations listed if you would like to make a donation to help feed a Lane County family this holiday season.
Red Umbrella Services would like to wish each of you Happy Holidays! Eugene has always been a place that celebrates community and there is no time better for those connections than during the holidays. So whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa or Winter Solstice, be sure to include friends and neighbors in your holiday traditions.
