Holiday fun and community gatherings marked the launch of the Christmas season on the West End over the weekend and into the new week.

On Friday Dec. 3 the annual Cherish Our Children fund-raiser packed out the Akalat Center at LaPush. A record-setting figure of around $16,000 was raised to help brighten up Christmas for needy children in Forks and LaPush.

Saturday morning, Dec. 4 the Forks Congregational Church held its annual Breakfast With Santa, also drawing a fellowship hall full of morning diners. Santa Claus was on hand for photos with children.

The annual Festival of Trees sponsored by the Soroptimists International of the Olympic Rainforest opened Saturday afternoon with over 20 decorated Christmas trees. On Sunday the trees were auctioned off.

The West End Business & Professional Association held another Santa Bucks drawing at 1 p.m. on Saturday outside at Forks Outfitters. The final drawings are scheduled for upcoming Saturdays.

At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, lighted parade floats rolled down Forks Ave. under clear skies for a change during the Twinkle Light Parade organized by JT’s Sweet Stuffs. Following the parade shoppers took to the sidewalks for several hours of Moonlight Madness shopping with downtown merchants offering special sales on merchandise.

On Tuesday, Dec. 7 the Clallam Bay Post Office held its annual Christmas cookie baking contest and its photos with Santa, with post office windows lined with photos of Christmas present and Christmas past at  the post office.