Christmas lights, pictures with Santa signal arrival of holiday season in Quincy
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 day, 7 hours AGO
Santa (Kent Bacon) talks with a child about her Christmas wishes during the holiday celebration in Quincy Dec. 5
CHERYL SCHWEIZER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Santa (Kent Bacon) listens closely to a wish list during the Quincy holiday celebration Dec. 5.
Quincy School District’s special education department brought holiday cheer at the Christmas Lights parade.
Children conversed with Santa (Kent Bacon) while getting their pictures taken with the jolly old elf during the holiday celebration in Quincy Dec. 5.
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | December 10, 2025 1:00 AM
QUINCY — Cold foggy weather did not keep children from making their Christmas wishes known to Santa after the biennial Christmas Lights parade Dec. 5. Santa set up shop at the Port of Quincy events center, and Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce Director Catalina Blancas said everyone had a good time.
“Everyone had a great time,” she said.
The Christmas parade and visit with Santa are sponsored by the chamber every other year, alternating with its annual banquet. The Christmas Lights parade featured fire trucks, cars and farm equipment all decked out with lights, ending at the events center.
Santa and Mrs. Santa got some help from Kent and Kim Bacon, who have been standing in for the jolly old elf and his missus for about 25 years. Children sat on Santa’s lap or clustered around him while parents snapped pictures.
Most children were happy to see Santa, but some were not — some hid behind their parents; some refused to get close to that guy in red, while some didn’t bother to hide their displeasure while their parents snapped a picture.
All children got a cookie, though, with the help of Chamber volunteers who served the cookies and cocoa.
The Quincy Valley Historical Society & Museum sponsored a Living Nativity on Dec. 6.
Santa (Kent Bacon) listens closely to a wish list during the Quincy holiday celebration Dec. 5.
Quincy School District’s special education department brought holiday cheer at the Christmas Lights parade.
Children conversed with Santa (Kent Bacon) while getting their pictures taken with the jolly old elf during the holiday celebration in Quincy Dec. 5.ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
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