ARLINGTON Mark Winterhalter and his beautiful horses, Sugar and Spice, add a nice historical flair to historical downtown Arlington offering free rides in a conastoga wagon in historical downtown Arlington during the holidays. Santa Claus will lead the Santa Parade, starting at noon, Saturday Dec. 2, followed by a tree lighting and caroling session at the City Hall Plaza.
Santa will be living in style this year, entertaining childrens wishes in the nice, warm City Council Chambers in the new Arlington Police Station. Free Polaroid pictures or bring your own camera.
The Christmas tree, which the city will install on the plaza, is donated by Outback Christmas Tree farm and city employees will stand it up. Caroling and hot chocolate will be provided by The Lifeway Church and the best of Arlingtons fudge will be judged at the plaza as well. For information about the fudge contest call Robin Miller
Wagon rides will be free to all after the parade until 5 p.m., Dec. 2 and from 11 a.m. 5 p.m. Saturdays Dec. 9, 16 and 23. The wagon rides are sponsored by Downtown Arlington Merchants and the parade is coordinated by employees of the city of Arlington.
A new feature in the Santa Parade this year is an Arlington High School bus filled with students collecting food donations for the schools Santa Helpers program. The Santa Helpers is a DECA program project which provides entire holidays to families in need, including food and gifts for whole families. ASB officers and friends will help DECA by gathering food donations during the parade.
The students will follow the bus with wheelbarrows, wagons and boxes to gather whatever the parade viewers have to offer. Arlington High School Activities Coordinator, Doug Plucker explained adding that the ASB, led by its officers, do a community service project each month and this is their project for December
We hope to fill up the bus, said Plucker. For information call Plucker at 360-618-6300, x 3013.

Bake sale for the gazebo
The downtown Arlington merchants have announced they will hold a bake sale to raise money for the gazebo again this year, at Evonnes, 340 N. Olympic Ave., from 9 a.m. to
4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2. Donations are gladly accepted and should be delivered to Evonnes Friday, Dec. 1.
A lot of special favorite baked goods include bars and brownies, cake and bread, and a pageant for information call 360-435-2769.
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Genealogy open house
The Stillaguamish Genealogy Society has announced they will serve cookies to visitors on the day of the Santa Parade, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2. Visitors will have an opportunity to review SVGS publications, including several collections of obituaries as well as the Arlington Centennial Pictorial History. The SVGS, at 135 N. Olympic Ave., in downtown Arlington meets regularly at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. For information call 360-435-4838.

Christmas stuff sale
Collectibles, holiday clothing, ornaments, decorations, toys, and more treasures donated by church members and friends will be for sale, in the fellowship hall at Arlington United Church, at 4th Street & McLeod Avenue in downtown Arlington, 9 a.m. –
4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2. Donations are still welcome to help raise money for the AUC mission projects.
Coffee, hot cider and cookies will also be available. For information call pastor Deena Jones at 360-435-4359 or missions chair Jeannie Lish at 360-652-9227.

Super Saturday open house
Arlington Hardware and Arlington Pharmacy are both planning a holiday open house from 4 – 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, with refreshments, drawings and lots of good deals. Its Super Saturday in downtown, as well as the Santa Parade, and many downtown businesses, including Action Sports, Unique Interiors and New Beginnings are all offering significant discounts.

Winter Fest
Arlington High School presents Winterfest Saturday, Dec. 2, in the AHS commons. The art club will be selling glass Christmas ornaments, wine bottle cheese trays, and jewelry of glass beads; wood shop is selling hand-made wooden toys, the Future Farmers will be selling poinsetta arrangements and wreathes. The French Club is doing a bake sale and the culinary arts club will sell food to eat and music is provided by band students. For information call Arlington High School at 360-618-6300.

A Christmas Carol
Arlington High School has announced a very special holiday treat. The AHS Drama Department will present A Christmas Carol by Charlies Dickens at the old AHS auditorium, 135 S. French St., 7:30 p.m., Dec. 1, 2, 8 and 9, directed by Scott Moberly. A cast of almost 50 students includes nine children from Pioneer Elementary and incidental music by Jeff Swanson, music teacher at Post and Haller Middle Schools.
Tickets are $7 and $5 for ASB students. For information call Scott Moberly at AHS 360-618-6300, ext. 3117.

Community Messiah
Lyle Fordes biannual community choir will present Handels Messiah at Arlington High School, 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd. in Arlington at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 10. The community choir, with singers from Arlington, Marysville, Lake Stevens, Lakewood, Stanwood and Darrington, work with members of the high school choir to present the Messiah and other seasonal tunes. For information call Lyle Forde at AHS, 360-618-6300.

Pioneers Christmas Party
Stillaguamish Valley Pioneers have announced a Christmas party Sunday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m., with a potluck luncheon served at 1:30 p.m., at Pioneer Hall, 20722 67th Ave. N.E. in Arlington. Along with a dish and your own table service, please bring a donation for the food bank. For information call 360-435-7289.

Our Saviours Christmas
Our Saviours Lutheran Church will present its Christmas Choir Concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. The church is at 616 Highland Dr., in Arlington. The program, And the Word Was God is written and directed by Laurie Breon, church music director, with musical selections performed by the choir, instrumental musicians, and readings of scripture. For information call the church 360-435-8921.

School of Dance concert
Arlington School of Dance relives the classic tale, The Night Before Christmas in dance with a special surprise guest, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 16 at the old AHS auditorium, 135 S. French St., in Arlington. For information call 360-435-4541.

Winter break movie
Kids Winter Break at the Movies features Over the Hedge (rated P.G.) at 1 p.m., Dec. 27 and 28 at the Olympic Theater in downtown Arlington. Admission is free until the theater if full. No outside food or drink allowed.? Co-sponsored by the city of Arlington Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission and Olympic Theater. For information call Sarah Hegge, 360-403-3448.