Grants Pass hosted its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony and related activities, including a @GalleryOne at the Museum of Art hosting its annual membership show, a vendor fair, horse-drawn carriage rides, entertainment from the Grants Pass Jazz Combo, the Rogue Singers, and Mrs. Claus, a toy giveaway for children (courtesy of Evergreen Bank), and the grand finale–an appearance by Santa Claus and the lighting of the Christmas tree.
Yeah, I’m not a big Santa guy, but this was a community event that a lot of people put a huge effort into for the kids and others, so I thought I should cover it. I hope you find it of value. I’ve covered a fair amount of negative in Grants Pass, and thought it would be good to cover some positive.
You can also check out the video I shot previous to this one, which showed the Grants Pass Historic District and some of the preparations for the Christmas tree lighting events from five days earlier, and something of a “music video” I put together from that footage, using Andy Williams’ Christmas classic, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
Since this is a relatively long video with many parts, I created “chapters” under the YouTube video and below, so that you can go to whichever part of the Grants Pass Christmas tree lighting festivities you’d like to see. Just click on the link you wish to see. For instance, the first thing I recorded (everything on the video is presented in the order I shot) was the GalleryOne at the Museum of Art annual membership show. I found many of the paintings fascinating–you may or may not.
Here’s the chapters:
00:00 – Intro / Grants Pass Museum of Art annual membership show
04:26 – Vendor Fair
05:36 – Sound check / Horse carriage pass
06:48 – Sales pitch guy!
08:00 – G Street shops
10:51 – Christmas tree area
11:48 – More shops
12:53 – Second carriage pass in front of band
13:14 – Grants Pass High School Jazz Combo
16:00 – More shops (at night)
16:15 – Children’s Museum
16:25 – Glass Forge
17:40 – G Street at night
18:15 – Grants Pass High School Jazz Combo (part 2)
19:19 – Rogue Singers
20:14 – G Street / 6th Street
22:02 – Welcome Center
23:11 – Dutch Bros line! / Josephine County Transit bus
24:32 – Santa’s sleigh lights on the roof
24:41 – Don’s Bike Center
25:17 – Mrs. Claus “Holly Jolly Christmas” song
28:12 – Santa’s coming! (Christmas tree lighting ceremony on stage)
29:07 – Grants Pass Mayor Clint Scherf speaks
29:49 – Melissa from Evergreen Bank (sponsor of Christmas toy giveaway!) speaks
30:25 – Christmas toys thrown out to kids!
33:04 – Mrs. Claus asks kids what they want for Christmas (robots!)
35:04 – Santa is coming!
35:37 – Mrs. Claus leads chant: “Santa! Santa!…”
36:05 – Santa arrives on top of a fire truck!
37:14 – Santa makes his entry!
37:39 – Santa speaks!
39:49 – Countdown and Christmas tree lighting!
40:36 – Santa, Mrs. Claus, and audience sing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”
41:30 – Santa and Mrs. Claus leave the stage / “Holly, Jolly Christmas” / END
Here’s a short video from the City of Grants Pass that features some excellent photos of the event.
Patrick Rooney is the Founder of OldSchoolUs.com. He promotes natural health, success, and freedom during chaotic times.
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