POULSBO — The Poulsbo Tree-Lighting Ceremony is relatively brief. People show up, cider is sipped and carols are sung, Miss Poulsbo flicks the lights on and everyone goes home.
But under the guidance of a tattooed 27-year-old entrepreneur, this year’s ceremony is shaping up to be about as subdued as Santa Claus in a monster truck.
Because Santa will actually be riding in a monster truck.
The tree lighting begins at 7 p.m. Nov. 27 at the corner of Lindvig Way and Viking Avenue.
Eric Mahler, owner/operator of Caffe Cocina on Finn Hill Road, is leading a group of other business owners from the Viking Avenue Business Association in putting on the fifth annual tree lighting.
“This event is pinnacle for the future of Viking Avenue,” Mahler said.
Mahler has co-owned Cocina with his mother Sharon for three years. He’s quickly integrated himself in the Poulsbo business community. He’s the head of the Viking Avenue Business Association, a member of the North Kitsap Tourism Coalition and recently he was elected to the Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
The slogan for this year’s lighting ceremony is “Bigger, brighter, louder” and it appears to be living up to the billing.
Last year, the ceremony featured 1,200 feet of lights. This year, there will be 3,500 feet, plus four Star Shower laser lights, which sprinkle lights over an area.
Following the ceremony, Hudson Auto will host “After Light” festivities, to include arts and crafts at Santa’s workshop, music by Navy rock musician Daniel Webber, and beer from Sound Brewery.
“Christmas is gonna throw up in there — it’s gonna be awesome,” Mahler said.
Everything offered at the festivities will be free of charge, although some items will have suggested donations to benefit North Kitsap Fishline.
Last year, about 300 people attended the ceremony. Organizers are projecting 300-500 this year.
A small group of residents and Viking Avenue business owners are helping organize the ceremony. Included in the group are Mahler, Ray and Diane Donahue of Peninsula Paint, Kathi Foresee who runs the Third of July and Viking Fest and recent City Council candidate Amanda Cheatham.
“This has probably been one of the best collective efforts I have been a part of,” Mahler said. “It’s been so smooth.”
The group views the ceremony as a coming out party of sorts for the business district.
Foresee is helping with the ceremony because she wants to see Viking Avenue revitalized.
“I want to see Viking Avenue thrive,” Foresee said. “I want to see it back to its glory.”
Mayor Becky Erickson called the reenergized tree lighting a “sign of good things” for Viking Avenue.
“It’s kind of symbolic of Viking Avenue,” Erickson said. “Viking Avenue is doing really well now.”
Mahler wants to continue pushing the bigger, brighter, louder theme next year.
“The whole idea is to make it bigger next year,” Mahler said.
How much bigger? Well, if he has it his way the city will shut down Viking Junction completely and Santa will ride straight down Viking Avenue.
Preliminary plans are already being made for the 2016 Poulsbo Tree-Lighting Ceremony. — Image credit: Pete O’Cain
