Wenatchee Valley Museum plans holiday event series

WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center is preparing to usher in the holiday season with a series of festive events spanning from late November through mid-December, featuring activities ranging from Santa photo sessions to a traditional English tea party.

The celebrations begin November 24 at the historic Wells House, where families can schedule professional portrait sessions with Santa Claus between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. A special outdoor session for pet photos with Santa will follow from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Parsons Photography will provide complimentary photographs to all registrants, with additional photo packages available for purchase.

The museum's holiday programming continues December 7 with a multicultural celebration featuring hands-on craft stations celebrating holiday traditions from around the world. The event, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will include photos with Santa and a unique Gingerbread Bus competition organized by Link Transit. The Rotary Clubs of the Wenatchee Valley are sponsoring a hot cocoa station for visitors.

The holiday series culminates December 14 with the ninth annual Holiday Tea at the Wells House, a two-hour event beginning at 1 p.m. The traditional English-style tea service will feature locally sourced beverages from Inner Grove Tea Company and refreshments from Cafe Columbia. Entertainment will be provided by two Wenatchee High School vocal quartets — the Hytones and FourTune Hunters. Wenatchee Mayor Mike Poirier is scheduled to make an appearance at the tea service.

The museum, a nonprofit organization supported by the cities of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee, has implemented tiered pricing for the events to encourage membership participation. Santa photos are priced at $10 for members and $15 for non-members, with strict five-minute time slots to accommodate all participants. The family fun day on December 7 is offered at $5 per family for members and $10 for non-members. The holiday tea, which requires advance registration due to limited seating, is priced at $45 for members and $50 for non-members.

Registration for all events is available through the museum's website. The organization is also seeking volunteers to assist with the December 7 family activities.

The Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission focused on gathering, engaging, and educating people to celebrate and preserve the region's history, arts, sciences, and cultural diversity.

For more information about the holiday events, interested parties can visit wenatcheevalleymuseum.org, or contact the museum's front desk at (509) 888-6240.