Front Street lights up for the holidays

POULSBO — Winter may have yet to arrive, but downtown business owners are already busy creating a holiday wonderland for shoppers in Little Norway. Individual shops are planning extended hours, festive deals and plenty of holiday gifts and gadgets galore, while the Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association has a host of yearly traditions once again in the works.

“It’s pretty festive on the weekends to come down here,” said HDPA marketing chair Meisha Rouser, adding carolers, Father Christmas and the Giving House are just a few holiday bonuses visitors can enjoy. Father Christmas will be stationed in the Havne Veien Walkway on Saturday’s beginning Nov. 24, and the Giving Tree will serve as a drop-off facility for food donations to benefit North Kitsap Fishline.

Also on the event roster is the Dec. 14 and 15 Poulsbo Yacht Club lighted boat parade. Julefest, which will include a lighting of the waterfront tree by Miss Poulsbo Alex Duchemin and the Viking Torch Parade, will be held Dec. 1. Horse-drawn wagon rides, too, will take place beginning Nov. 24.

“It’s so much fun. You have to dress warm though,” advised HDPA administrative assistance Constance Gooding.

HDPA member, Tizley’s Europub and Europa Deli owner Tammy Mattson said Front Street lights up with holiday cheer.

“The holidays are going to be full of activity,” she said. “Pretty much every weekend there’s stuff going on downtown... lots of reasons for families to come down.”

Tizley’s Europub will begin offering beer dinners for the winter months. Starting Nov. 15 five beers and five courses of food will be up for grabs to hungry patrons. Seating is limited, reservations are recommended.

Liberty Bay Books will be extending its hours, remaining open until 8 p.m. each night between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“We just find that people are busy and on their way home we’d rather have them stop here than continue on to Silverdale,” said owner Suzanne Droppert.

Liberty Bay Books will also provide free gift wrapping, this year donations for the service will benefit the newly re-opened Marine Science Center.

“People love to come in to see what we’re decorating with and, of course, all the chocolate,” said Boehm’s Chocolates manager Karen Suther, who said the store is already brimming with holiday paraphernalia. Chocolate turkeys and Santas, festive tins, scented candles, place-setting decor and limited-edition Christmas bears are a few of the items Boehm’s offers.

“We get to be select with our ornaments by bringing in our favorites,” Suther said. “We bring in really unique gift items.”

Boehm’s also boasts sipping chocolate, perfect for after-dinner desserts or making chocolate martinis.

“It’s so rich, you just need a little bit,” Suther said. “It’s wonderful.”

For more information on HDPA holiday events, call (360) 697-3366. To make a reservation for Tizley’s Europub beer dinners, call (360) 394-0080. For more information on Liberty Bay Books, including their three author events in December, visit www.libertybaybooks.com.

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