Falls festival: Folks keep coming back for songs, stories around lodge fireplace

By Mary Owen

Santa’s coming to Silver Falls State Park, and he’s bringing with him a lot of good cheer!

“This is geared to the kids,” said Lou Nelson, with Friends of Silver Falls State Park. “But everyone is invited to get in the holiday spirit with numerous make-and-take projects such as holiday cards, gingerbread houses, festive ornaments, genuine wreathes, nature crafts, birds nest boxes and more.”

The 35th annual Christmas Festival at Silver Falls State Park takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7-8 in the South Falls Historic District. Parking is $5, but the festival is free.

The festival has become an annual holiday tradition for families in the Willamette Valley and Santiam Canyon, Nelson said.

“We’re into three and four generations of families now that come up to the festival,” said Nelson, a longtime park volunteer. “One of the most fun things is just watching the kids.”

Nelson said she loves how they’re eyes get so big while wandering around all the festivities, “especially the little kids.” She expects a good turnout.

“If the weather is good, we expect to have over 4,000 people or more,” she said. “That’s how many we had last year. We were swamped!”

Festival-goers can grab a cookie, a cup of cocoa, and gather around the fireplace in the South Falls Lodge to hear seasonal stories each afternoon. Or they can wander from place to place, listening to music as they go along, Nelson said.

The Livingstons Adventist Academy Bell Choir will return this year, as will the Muller Family and Friends Choir, The Roundhouse Band and bagpiper Jim Haskell.

“We’ve got a lot of new Christmas decorations for kids to do this year, like a reindeer that makes into a pin or decoration,” she said. “They’re really cute.”

The most popular activities are making wreaths and gingerbread houses, she said.

Nelson covers the gingerbread houses with plastic sleeves, but many, she said, never get home as kids walk out nibbling on their creations.

Of those who do make it home, she said, “Some are beautiful and some are just hanging together by their chinny-chin-chins.”

Adults usually make the wreaths, and some people “make absolutely gorgeous ones,” Nelson said.

“The hosts have been working on making beautiful ribbons for months,” she added.

Earl McCollum, who has volunteered at the park since 2005, loves helping people make wreaths.

“It’s the most fun!” McCollum said. Of the activities, he added, “They’re all fun. The kids and everyone are all happy. It’s a great time!”

Nelson’s husband, Andy, also loves it all, but, he said, “There is something magical about the haunting sounds of the bagpipes in the forest as we walk.

“Silver Falls Christmas Festival is forever a family tradition of ours,” he added. “Amazing memories are made here!”

All activities and crafts are free, except for the bird nest box, which is $5 for materials. During this event and throughout December, annual park passes are on sale for $25, or two years for $50.

For more information, call Lou Nelson at 503-581-4155 or Ranger Dorothy Brown-Kwaiser at 503-874-0201.