with live music, wine, Wilbur the Winhors d’oeuvres and throp Whistlepig will socializing until 7 p.m. be at his elusive best for Contact 997-2787. the annual Groundhog The Winthrop Day search on Feb. 2, Gallery’s Holiday Gift beginning at 9 a.m. Show will be Nov. The event begins at 22-Dec. 31. Contact the Town Trailhead in 996-3925. Winthrop and includes The Methow Vala ski tour along the ley Community CenCommunity Trail, led ter’s fun and festive by local naturalists. Christmas Bazaar will The Methow Valbe open two days, ley Snowmobile AsNov. 17 and Dec. 1, sociation’s Bucket Run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. is Feb. 17. Contact The annual 996-2220. Christmas Bazaar at Winthrop’s anthe Winthrop Barn nual Balloon Fest will Photo by Don Nelson will be Dec. 8. Contact be held March 1, 2 Balloon Fest comes in early March. 996-3413. The popular and 3. Balloons from Bite of the Methow is around the Northwest scheduled for March 16, also behind the Mazama Com- fill the morning skies. Contact at the Winthrop Barn. munity Center. 997-1700. Two free holiday concerts • Celebrate the holidays will be presented Dec. 11 and with friends and family ski- Inside 12 by the Cascadia Chorale ing in a non-competitive The Methow Valley Inn’s and Pipestone Orchestra. tour of the Mazama Trails at Monday Night Supper Club Contact 997-1000. the Holiday Ski Tour on Dec. launches on Nov. 12, con30. Day of event registration tinuing through April 23, Out there and afternoon celebration will with Jon Brown from the Winthrop is the center be based out of the Mazama Arrowleaf Bistro returning of the universe during the Community Center. The tour as chef. New this year will be Christmas at the End of the will utilize a loop course entertainment or discussions Road celebration. On Nov. that runs from Mazama up as part of the evening. Contact 23, the day after Thanksgiv- through the North Cascade’s 997-2253. ing, there will be storytelling Base Camp and across the Sun Mountain Lodge at Trail’s End Bookstore, fol- Methow River. hibernates for a few weeks in lowed at 5 p.m. by a “night • The Nordic Festival/ the fall and then comes back glow” hot air balloon lighting Nordic Pursuit, on Jan. 26 to life for the holiday season, by Morning Glory Balloon and 27, offers something for this time reopening on Dec. 7. Tours. everyone. Things actually The lodge hosts special dinAt noon on Nov. 24, kick off on Jan. 25 with Back- ners on Christmas Day and Santa arrives on Riverside yard Ski Day, with free skiing, New Year’s Eve, sleigh rides, Avenue. There will be a 5K rentals, clinics, shuttles, snow wine tastings, and plenty of road run and 1K kids fun run cat rides, ice skating and trail- local musical entertainment at 1 p.m. Santa moves to the head festivities. Join Nordic by local artists including Tara Winthrop Barn from 1-4 p.m. Festival/Pursuit participants, Kaiyala Weaver and Terry for the Winter Fest, including family members, friends and Hunt, in the main lobby. Visit holiday arts and good food. community members the eve- with Santa Claus on Dec. 22 At 5 p.m., the town’s ning of Jan. 26 at the Winthrop and 24, and hear him read The holiday decorations are lit up, Barn for a fundraising dinner. Night Before Christmas. and then the whole sky will Contact 996-3287 for North Cascades Basebe illuminated by the annual MVSTA events. camp brings back its Thursfireworks show beginning at MVSTA’s free snowshoe day night soup dinner/ 6 p.m. Head back to the Barn tours are every Saturday and naturalist lecture series beginat 7 p.m. for the Cowboy holiday weekend throughout ning Dec. 20 and continuing Christmas Show with Laura- the winter months, leaving through March 7. Contact lee Northcott & Friends. from the North Cascades 996-2334. Basecamp in Mazama at The Methow Valley From the Methow Valley 11 a.m. Contact 996-2334. Snowmobile Association ofSport Trails Association: “Wintering Bald Eagles fers its annual free Christmas • On Dec. 29, the Ski in the Methow Valley” will Day Dinner at the Senior Rodeo offers races for fun or be presented Jan. 13 and 27, Center in Twisp, beginning competition. Wear a crazy and Feb. 10 and 24 at North at noon. Contact 996-2220. costume and win a special Cascades Basecamp. Email See our Winter Calendar prize. All races start from the info@northcascadesbasecamp. on pages 32-33 for a more Mazama Corral Trailhead com. complete listing of events. ❄
Methow Valley Winter 2012/2013
Page 31