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 “The turkey. The sweet potatoes. The stuffing. The pumpkin pie. Is there anything else we all can agree so vehemently about?”
-- Nora Ephron --
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 Short update this week as it’s a short work week. I'm enjoying a couple of days off to be with friends and family for Thanksgiving! A few days away from the office isn’t typical for me, so it may take a bit of getting used to, but I’ll give it my best. And I'll get started on that today, because first, I was working with the Auburn Food Bank yesterday for their annual Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway, a tradition I've volunteered at for many, many years. It’s a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit and remember that it is a gift to give back!
 The Auburn Food Bank is such an essential lifeline to so many in our community and I shudder to think what life would be like for our most vulnerable populations if it didn't exist. The people in Auburn are gracious and generous, and I am thankful for each of you and the gifts that you share with your neighbors every day -- especially this year as Debbie Christian, the nonprofit's director and a dear friend, reported they raised over $140,000 at this year's annual Harvest Breakfast earlier this month.
 That money will go directly toward ensuring families in our community have food on their tables over the holidays, when federal funding for SNAP benefits has been so tenuous and unpredictable.
I have so much to be thankful for this season -- most especially, all of you. Thank you Auburn, and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
 After your Thanksgiving meal and time spent with family is moving into a wonderful memory and the best leftovers have been shared, don’t forget about Small Business Saturday! Please, if you’re out in the crowds, remember our local businesses that are the backbone of our community! They could definitely use your support and you’ll find things that are one of a kind and provide joy to both the giver and the receiver. I know I’ll be doing my part, so I hope to see you!Click to edit this placeholder text.
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Make and Mingle @ Postmark
Stop by the Postmark for our Make & Mingle session! Join us for a cup of coffee with whatever art project you might be working on. A free, no-pressure environment for artists and creatives to gather... you can talk with other artists, ask for feedback or critique from on-site staff if available, bring your sketchbook to work out ideas, or just quietly draw in the gallery or work on your art! Intended for ages 18+.
📅 Wednesdays
⏰ 10 a.m. - Noon
📍 Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave.
💲 Free
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Drop-In Drawing @ Postmark
Come stop by for our new Drop-In Drawing sessions at the Postmark! A free, no-pressure environment for artists and creatives to drop-in to draw from a still life or the gallery. Stay for whole two hours or only 10 minutes. Bring tools to either shade or color with, and your own sketchbook or drawing pad. There will be on-site help for critique/questions/advice. All are welcome.
Ages: 15+
Registration: $0
Instructor: Postmark Staff
📅 Fridays
⏰ 10 a.m. - Noon
📍 Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave.
💲 Free
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Drop-In Painting With Amy Sie @ Postmark
Amy Sie is offering Drop-In Gongbi Painting sessions at the Postmark! A free, no-pressure environment for you to start a new painting, or work on an old one. Please bring your own tools and materials for watercolor painting. On-site help for critique/questions/advice. All are welcome.
Ages: 18+
Fee: $0
Instructor: Amy Sie
📅 Fridays
⏰ 10 a.m. - Noon
📍 Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave.
💲 Free
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Gingerbread Contest
FREE - This fun event celebrates the holidays and brings the community together to see what Auburn can build! Gingerbread structures will be on display at the Auburn Community & Events Center.
Gingerbread Contest Application
Gingerbread Contest Rules (PDF)
Please note, this event is free and materials for displays are NOT provided.
VOTING
- Voting will be open December 3 - 17, 2025
- Vote during Auburn Community & Events Center's normal business hours,
- Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
- Fridays, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Saturdays, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- There are two categories to vote in, youth and adult.
Based on votes from the public, a winner will be announced on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
Questions? Contact Amanda Valdez or call 253-931-3043.
📅 Dec. 3 - 17
⏰ Normal business hours
📍 Auburn Community & Events Center | 910 Ninth St.
💲 Free
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Dickens Christmas After Hours
Join our museum curators for the saucier side of the holidays. We’ll serve-up some mulled wine and sweet treats as we explore Victorian Christmas traditions including food, gender roles, ghosts, and general carousing.
21+ only
More info
📅 Thursday, Dec. 4
⏰ 7 - 8:30 p.m.
📍 White River Valley Museum | 918 H St. SE
💲 Tickets ($25)
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Lighted Santa Parade & Tree Lighting
- 3:30 PM.........Parade line up begins at Auburn High School
- 4:00 PM........Live music at City Hall, FREE
- 4:30 PM.........Parade begins, FREE
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After the parade ends
- Tree Lighting & Visit from Santa, FREE
- Live music at City Hall, FREE
City of Auburn's Lighted Santa Parade!
From Auburn High School to City Hall, lighted entries will fill Main Street with holiday joy!
Beginning at 4:30 PM the parade will feature lighted vehicles, floats, cars, and walking entries. All community, families, non-profits, and businesses are welcome to participate.
All entries wishing to participate in the parade must register in advance by 5 PM on Friday, November 21, 2025.
All entries must have a lighted element and adhere to parade rules.
Join us for live music before and after the City of Auburn parade at City Hall. Then watch as the community brings out their lighted holiday parade entries! We'll wrap up the event with the annual tree lighting at City hall plus a visit from Santa.
Tree Lighting
Santa is looking for a special helper to light the tree in front of City Hall. A well-deserving child, that lives within the Auburn City limits, and is between the ages of 5 and 9, will be randomly selected to be Santa's Helper on December 6, 2025.
Nominations will be accepted through 5 PM on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
Only one nomination per child will be accepted. Multiple nominations for the same child will not be included in the selection process.
Tree Lighter Nomination Form
For questions contact Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation
253-931-3043
Email Us
📅 Saturday, Dec. 6
⏰ 4:30 p.m.
📍 Downtown Auburn along Main Street
💲 Free
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Book Explorers with KCLS - A Boy Called Dickens
Have you ever wondered how book authors get their ideas? Find out how a poor boy in Victorian London grew of up be one of the most famous authors in English literature, writing A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, and many other books. Then enjoy museum activities and discover how Victorian traditions have influenced winter holidays in many places, including Washington state.
Ages 7 and up
More info
📅 Saturday, Dec. 6
⏰ 2 p.m.
📍 White River Valley Museum | 918 H St. SE
💲 Free
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Red, White & Blue Holiday Concert
Ring in the holidays with this annual FREE community concert performed by America's First Corps Army Band. Hear this festive and rousing concert presented by the Army’s best, together with all of your favorite holiday music and carols. Tickets are free, but required for admission and will be available on-line or pick-up beginning November 1 at the Auburn Community & Event Center. Limit 6 per family.
Get Tickets Online - Limit 6
Regular: $0; Student/Senior: $0
📅 Sunday, Dec. 7
⏰ 2 p.m.
📍 Auburn Performing Arts Center | 702 4th St. NE
💲 Tickets (Free but please register)
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Curator Walk & Talk: Making Merry and Christmas Feasting
All Ages | Free program
Join Museum Director Rachael McAlister for an informal tour of our A Very Dickens Christmas exhibit with special attention to the yummy parts of the story!
📅 Thursday, Dec. 11
⏰ 1 p.m.
📍 White River Valley Museum | 918 H St. SE
💲 Free (RSVP)
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Breakfast with Santa
Celebrate the season with Santa! Join us for a festive morning the whole family will enjoy.
All Ages.
Pre-Registration required.
Space is limited.
You can expect a delicious breakfast served by Santa's elves, LIVE entertainment, and a visit from the big man himself! Vegan and GF breakfast option available by request.
Register Below:
First Seating (8:30-10:00AM)
Youth: 60173
Adult: 60174
Second Seating (11AM-12:30PM)
Youth: 61075
Adult: 61076
📅 Saturday, Dec. 13
⏰ 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (two seatings)
📍 Auburn Community & Events Center | 910 Ninth St.
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A Season of Giving and Sharing Family Day
All Ages | Free Program
Join us for a fun-filled holiday themed family day with free activities and crafts from all the winter holidays.
Holiday storytelling at 12 PM with renowned storyteller Karen Haas.
Register Online!
📅 Saturday, Dec. 13
⏰ 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
📍 White River Valley Museum | 918 H St. SE
💲 Free (Register)
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Postmark Second Saturdays
Visit Postmark Center for the Arts gallery, open to the public each Second Saturday from 12-4PM! Each month features FREE, all ages performances, crafts, and events!
Marbled Ube Cookies is BACK!
Each individual must register for this FREE activity to participate. Limited spots available!
Register for Session 1 (12 - 1:15PM)
Register for Session 2 (1:45 - 3PM)
This month, learn to bake marbled ube cookies with Clarissa Grace Gines on Saturday, December 13th! This will be a participatory, hands-on workshop where participants will have the opportunity to follow along and make their own batch of cookies!
During the demo, you will also learn about the history of ube, a vibrantly purple Filipino tuber that has gained popularity in recent years.
You will leave the demo with freshly baked cookies and the cookie recipe for you to recreate at home!
About: Clarissa Grace Gines (she/her) is a Filipina-American cultural worker and arts administrator whose multi-layered identities as a child of immigrants, first-generation college graduate, mother, storyteller, and arts advocate inform her work in, and with community. In her free time, she can be found in nature looking at flowers, in a museum looking at art, or in her kitchen whipping up baked goods.
📅 Saturday, Dec. 13
⏰ Noon - 4 p.m.
📍 Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave.
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A Take3 Christmas
Come experience "A TAKE3 Christmas” featuring all of your favorite holiday tunes with the virtuosic ladies of TAKE3. Bring the whole family to sing, clap and dance along as the countdown to everyone’s favorite holiday begins.
📅 Saturday, Dec. 13
⏰ 7:30 p.m.
📍 Green River College Student Affairs Building | 12401 SE 320th Street
💲Tickets ($27 regular, $24 student/senior)
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Curator Walk & Talk: A Very Victorian Washington Christmas
All Ages | Free program
Join Museum Curator Hilary Pittenger for an informal tour of our A Very Dickens Christmas exhibit highlighting how Victorian traditions show up in Washington State.
📅 Thursday, Dec. 18
⏰ 1 p.m.
📍 White River Valley Museum | 918 H St. SE
💲 Free (RSVP)
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Holiday Bake Sale
Friday, December 19 from 12-4PM
White River Valley Museum - 918 H Street Southeast, Auburn, WA, 98002
Free Event!
It’s the weekend before Christmas and you have a holiday party to attend. Quick - What are you bringing?
Find the answer at the second annual Museum Holiday Bake Sale!
Home baked goodies from museum staff and museum volunteers will be for sale. Proceeds support free and reduced cost museum field trips!
📅 Friday, Dec. 19
⏰ Noon - 4 p.m.
📍 White River Valley Museum | 918 H St. SE
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BYOB Bring Your Own Book!
Quiet Reading and Spooky Holiday Stories
Bring your own book, grab a cup of tea or cocoa, and cozy up amongst the Christmas trees for some quiet reading time followed by spooky holiday stories with renowned storyteller Karen Haas.
Register Online!
12 & Up | $10
📅 Friday, Dec. 19
⏰ 5:30 - 8 p.m.
📍 White River Valley Museum | 918 H St. SE
💲 Free (Register)
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An Inspirational Christmas with Elvis
Join Danny Vernon as he presents An Inspirational Christmas with Elvis - classic Elvis along with some great traditional Christmas selections. Make this Christmas tradition one of your own!
📅 Saturday, Dec. 20
⏰ 7:30 p.m.
📍 Green River College Student Affairs Building | 12401 SE 320th Street
💲Tickets ($27 regular, $24 student/senior)
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Blood Drive at Auburn City Hall
Be someone's hero today and donate blood. The Bloodworks Bloodmobile will be located outside City Hall.
- Appointments are required for the best possible donation experience.
- Same-day appointments available at most locations.
- Photo ID required.
- For safety, we kindly request no visitors under 16 at our donation sites.
- Eat a hearty meal and drink plenty of fluids prior to donation.
Book your one hour appointment at bloodworksnw.org/giveblood
📅 Tuesday, Jan. 13
⏰ 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
📍 Auburn City Hall | 25 W. Main Street
💲 Sign Up
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Our City staff and community had a great time at Salmon Fest this weekend at the Mary Olson Farm!
 Auburn is rich with history — from historical Main Street to the artifacts preserved throughout White River Valley Museum — I am excited to share these stories with all of you each week.
(Image courtesy of White River Valley Museum)
Poinsettias are a popular symbol of the holiday season today, but that wasn’t always the case. Native to Mexico and Central America, poinsettias started to be used as Christmas decorations by Spanish Franciscan missionaries in Mexico. They wouldn’t become popular in the United States until the advent of television, when commercial growers sent free plants to television stations to decorate their sets during the holiday season. Poinsettias are often mistakenly labelled as highly poisonous if ingested, but in fact they are at worst mildly irritating and were once used to make dye and fever-reducing medicine by the Aztecs.
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