Friday Harbor comes alive in its holiday finest beginning with the annual Island Lights Celebration at the foot of Spring Street, Friday, Dec. 7.

With huge lighted snowflakes adorning lamp posts throughout the town and shops all aglow and sparkling with holiday spirit, the event marks the start of Friday Harbor’s yearly transformation into a winter wonderland.

Sponsored by the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce, the festivities get under way at 4:30 p.m., with the lighting of the venerable and stately trees at Memorial Park at 5 p.m.

With an entire new strand of holiday lights ready to be strung, compliments of the Chamber and the Town of Friday Harbor, this year’s “flipping of the switch” promises to be both intriguing and spectacular, Chamber Events Coordinator Rebecca Parks assures.

“Last year the old lights finally bit the dust,” Parks said. “This year we have all new lights, thanks to the Town of Friday Harbor and the Chamber of Commerce.”

The annual tree lighting ceremony is just one of the many festivities and events in store for the evening. Island Rec will lead an ornament-making workshop, Friday Harbor Elementary School’s choir will be on hand to lend their voices to an assortment of holiday tunes and the Island Chordsmen will add a touch of old-fashion holiday harmony as it “barber-shops” its way up and down Spring Street, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

But that’s not all.

Complimentary holiday cookies will be available by the dozens, the Kiwanis Kaboose will have warm, tasty holiday beverages available and announcement of the winner of the chamber’s annual Holiday Decorating Contest round out this “en-lighting” evening of sparkle and fun.

Which reminds us.

The annual Island Lights Holiday Decorating Contest is well underway. The contest features friendly competition among town businesses, as they turn their windows, doors, shops and storefronts into a display of holiday cheer; winners announced as part of the tree-lighting festival

– Scott Rasmussen