Christmas Stroll kicks off holiday season

With a scene that could be out of a Hallmark Christmas movie, the Whitefish Christmas Stroll is an event that gets the whole town in the spirit of the holiday season.

The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce puts on the event each year and has a full lineup of fun activities for the evening. The event is Friday, Dec. 8 from 5-9 p.m. along Central Avenue in Whitefish.

The event features festive performances, Christmas carols and wagon rides. Santa will arrive in the evening via a horse-drawn wagon and will take photos with the kids. Throughout the streets, there are fire pits and various organizations have tents giving out cookies and hot chocolate.

The Christmas Stroll is a tradition that is more than three decades old, and it continues to bring everyone together to celebrate the season. According to Pilot archives, the first Christmas Stroll was around 1985 though the origin of it seems to be a bit fuzzy.

This year has a full lineup of events. The night will begin at 5 p.m. with the Alpine Bell Ringers Handbell Choir Concert followed by Harp Music and the North Valley Music School Christmas Recital at the First Presbyterian Church on Central Avenue.

Outside of the O'Shaughnessy Center in Depot Park the Flathead Valley Community College Vocal Jazz and Chorale Ensemble will perform, singing a host of favorite Christmas carols. The Tree Lighting Ceremony with the Chamber and sponsor Stockman Bank is at 6:20 in Depot Park and Santa will arrive just after on a Bar W Guest Ranch wagon. Santa will make his way down Central Avenue, accompanied by elves from the Alpine Theatre Project, to Hucks Place for “Selfies with Santa.”

A special dance performance by Whitefish and Bigfork Dance is at 6:50 p.m. south of Third Street on Central Avenue. The ensemble from FVCC will continue to perform throughout the evening and the Chamber’s Shoppers’ Drawing winners will be announced at 7:45.

Various activities and performances will be available throughout the evening. Including the following:

• Wagon rides around Depot Park by Bar W Guest Ranch

• Warm up at fire pits at various locations on Central Ave

• Create an ornament at Stumptown Art Studio 

• Feat X Feet youth tap ensemble performing outside Bulldog Saloon

• Vendors selling crafts and food

• Entertainment and photos with Buddy the Elf at Blackstar

• Turkey Bowling with prizes

• Whitefish Birdland Jazz Combo playing a holiday set at FORLOH

• Shopping at stores along Central

• Meet a gentle giant from Clydesdale Outpost

• Dance Elements performances outside Sappari

• Explore the SnowBike Nation “Bat Cave” 

There is also The Great Whitefish Gingerbread Contest which will be set up outside of Stumptown Art Studio. Contestants, both adults and kids, have submitted their gingerbread creations and at the Stroll, people can vote on their favorites. The contest is sponsored by Century 21 Deaton and Company and proceeds benefit Housing Whitefish nonprofit. 

Folks can get the season started and support local businesses and nonprofits by attending the 2023 Whitefish Christmas Stroll.