Christmas events highlight Puyallup, Sumner communities, local businesses

It’s the holiday season, and Puyallup and Sumner events are famous for bringing people together this time of year. I love the holidays, and my job gives me a bunch of reasons to get out and participate with the crowds.

This year, I decided be an enthusiastic participant and rented Victorian caroling costumes for myself and my co-workers at the chamber. The fun started the day after Thanksgiving.

First I must tell you that, if I had to dress in yards of red velvet with hoopskirts and all the accessories on a daily basis, I would probably open the chamber offices at least an hour later.

Never mind that it’s almost impossible to drive a vehicle with metal hoops resting on the steering wheel. Every time I got too close to a door jam or wall, not to mention giving folks a hug (I’m a hugger), my dress went askew, or my shoulder cape twisted around.

By mid-day, though, I was on a roll and looking forward to my first appearance at the Puyallup Main Street Association’s Holiday on Ice event in the Pioneer Park Pavilion.

I should tell you that ice skating has been on my bucket list for several years, so I had some expectations for performance. I also knew that I was supposed to emcee the Bridge Lighting in Sumner later that day, so it would not be a good thing to fall and break anything.

Thank goodness for skating instructor Lisa Clinton, who kept me upright and even showed me some skating moves, like a single-stand glide and a backward swizzle.

It was a lot of fun, and the best part was getting a chance to be with community members, including Puyallup Mayor Turner, who cheered me on from one formation to the next.

Check. One more thing off my bucket list.

By 3 that afternoon, I was at the Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse to meet with CEO Dave Radcliffe and Santa Al, and we went over the evening program. It was lots of fun to stand on the brightly lit fire truck with Dave, Santa and Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow.

We led the countdown to the bridge lighting and fireworks, and almost 6,000 people stood on the bridge. Add to that coffee, cider, cocoa and roasted nuts, plus outdoor fire pits and Christmas carol sing-a-longs with the Grinch, Santa and Frosty the Snowman, and that’s a pretty great evening in my book.

Dec. 3 was another two-city Christmas extravaganza in costume as the chamber participated in the Santa parades in Sumner and Puyallup. We handed out rhubarb taffy with Heritage Bank in the Rhubarb Pie Capital and hit the light switch on the Sunset Chevrolet Truck when we got to downtown Puyallup to wave at all the parade crowds.  I’m not sure who had the idea to blow snow onto the street at the beginning of the parade, but I’m putting in a good word for them with Santa, because I loved the fun holiday atmosphere it created for all of us who participated.

And for all the local businesses who participated or sponsored the events, I plan to share that with Santa as well. From dental offices to music stores to car dealers, banks and furniture stores, our local businesses are what make our communities a great place to live, work and play.

It is truly fun to be part of an organization that supports businesses and finds ways to link them together.

Merry Christmas to Puyallup and Sumner from the chamber.

Shelly Schlumpf is the executive director of the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber. She can be reached at 253-845-6755 or by email at shelly@puyallupsumnerchamber.com.