Christmas in Cashmere brings Santa and small-town sparkle to Cottage Avenue

CASHMERE — For one Saturday every December, Cottage Avenue shifts from its usual quiet rhythm into something closer to a Hallmark postcard. That happens again on December 6, when “Christmas in Cashmere” fills downtown with music, lights, food drives, and more than a few wide-eyed children waiting for Santa.

The day begins with Santa photo stations moving through town. He’ll be downtown first from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by Martin’s Market from 12–2 p.m., and finally a stop at Yonder Patio from 2:30–4 p.m. Families can catch him once, twice, or follow the full route if the kids insist.

Local businesses will open their doors for a community-wide celebration. Artisan Christmas at Henry’s/Brick & Rafters runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., highlighting handmade goods from local creators. Meanwhile, the Urban Christmas Market stretches from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., bringing vendors into the downtown mix with everything from stocking stuffers to winter décor.

Kids won’t have to wait for Santa to find joy. Christmas Llamas, one of the quirkiest and most beloved traditions of the event, will be downtown from noon to 2 p.m., offering photos and a lot of delighted shrieking. There will also be free children’s activities throughout the day in various spots along Cottage Avenue.

Music adds its own texture to the holiday rush, with the Marlin Handbell Ringers putting on their legendary Christmas show and the Wenatchee Valley’s own beloved Welter Brothers filling downtown with festive, acoustic tunes — the kind you hear before you see the musicians, drifting down the block like something baked into winter itself.

Community giving is central to the celebration. Two major drives take place during the event: Stuff the Bus Food Drive at Martin’s Market and the NCW Toy Drive at the Dispatch Mailroom, both collecting essentials for local families heading into the holidays. Even the Chelan County Library joins in with a book sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Festivities end with Cashmere’s brightest tradition, the Nelson Family Christmas Lights, on from 5–9 p.m. The display turns a familiar site, the Old Mill, into a glowing landmark — a place where neighbors gather to end the night under strands of color and sparkle.

Christmas in Cashmere isn’t a single destination so much as a day-long stroll past storefronts trimmed with lights, familiar faces stopping to talk, and volunteers helping kids stand still long enough for holiday photos. In a town where community events feel as personal as family gatherings, it’s another reason people keep coming back to downtown every December.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media