KINGSTON — The turkey’s soup. Time to take out the tinsel.

This weekend a crew of volunteers will transform downtown Kingston into a garlanded splendor. They are decorating for Kingston’s biggest event of the year — one rivaled only by the Fourth of July.

Saturday volunteers will meet from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the CenturyTel building on Bond Road to put together decorations. The work party is sponsored by the Kingston Revitalization Association. Karen Ross, the association’s president said plenty of helping hands are needed to spruce up Kingston with greenery.

So what’s the special occasion?

The fifth annual Kingston Country Christmas.

The Dec. 8 event will feature Santa on a red, sirened sleigh and plenty of music, shopping and a lighted boat parade.

The Hometown Band, scheduled to play from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., is a group of musicians ranging in skill and age from all over Kitsap County.

Band member Bob Fellers of Kingston said they plan to play a few typical yule time tunes, and music specifically composed for a concert band.

“We do a fine job,” Fellers said.

The bands has been around for several years and doesn’t get paid for performing. Donations, however, are accepted Fellers said, so that the band can buy music.

“This presents an outlet to create music,” Fellers said when asked why he became a member of the group. The Hometown Band is pretty much booked for the holiday season, Fellers said. In fact they are playing on Bainbridge Island Dec. 8 before they make their way north to Kingston.

After the concert, the Champions for Christ will take the stage at Kingston Christian Church to perform “Code Red.” The cast ranges in age from 13 to 18 and they will bring to life an evangelistic musical that tells the tale of four friends in the emergency room. They are waiting to hear news about a friend who was brought there.

“The kids are doing a really good job,” said Kaylynn Lundgren, whose daughter is in the play. Lundgren also coordinated the choreography.

She said the group has been working on the production since September. They will do a second performance at 6 p.m. Dec. 9. The performance is free.

Carolers from the Kingston Christian Church will also stroll through downtown Kingston.

For information call the Kingston Revitalization Association at 297-0316.