Port Townsend invites you to celebrate what’s special about our community during the holidays! Port Townsend’s historic districts are known for their individually-owned businesses filled with delightful gift ideas which offer the personal touch. Inviting dining spots and unique lodgings offer something for every taste. There are many thoughtful and creative gifts available in Port Townsend that will be remembered long after the holidays.

Join us for delightful holiday fun in 2022:

The Kiwanis Choo Choo

A Port Townsend favorite, the holiday “choo choo: train will roll merrily through town, making several Saturday appearances–November 26, December 3 and December 10.

The Festival Tent at Tyler Plaza

Look for the large festival tent at Tyler Street Plaza downtown, which will offer a festive outdoor space for a limited time. Get a meal-to-go or a hot drink and enjoy it there in between shopping stops. Check ptmainstreet.org for additional information about other holiday activities or follow the Port Townsend Main Street Program on social media for holiday updates. Thanks to the City of Port Townsend and CARES Act funding for tent assistance at Tyler Plaza.

• November 26: Small Business Saturday –Get a jump on holiday shopping! Then join in a free swag-making activity from 2-4 pm with Main Street elves under the heated tent at Tyler Street Plaza. Check out the new overhead lighting extending the use of the plaza in the darker winter months. Enjoy caroling in the streets with the Wild Rose Chorale and take a selfie with the holiday cartoon cut-outs.

• December 3: Ring in the Holidays in Port Townsend
  • 2 pm Caroling with the Wild Rose Chorale
  • 2 pm- 4pm Make & Take Ornaments at Tyler Street Plaza tent…while supplies last! Donations benefit PT Artscape which supports the arts in the public schools program.
  • 2:30 pm-4:30 pm Photo opportunities with Santa and the Kiwanis Choo Choo by Flagship Landing
  • Take a selfie with the holiday cartoon cut-outs.
  • Dusk: Treelighting at Haller Fountain

• December 10: “It’s a Wrap!” Last minute holiday gift wrapping.  Kiwanis Key Club/Rotary Interact Club students will wrap your locally purchased gifts with flair. Tyler Plaza Tent (weather permitting).

28th Annual Uptown Gingerbread Contest

Entries will be accepted from December 1st – 11th, 2022. Judging will take place December 12th – 19th, 2022 by local artist Max Grover. Please drop off your Gingerbread House to the Port Townsend Public Library during library hours at 1220 Lawrence Street. Winners will be announced Dec. 22nd, 2022. Call the library at 360-385-3181 with questions. Thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Port Townsend Public Library, you can pick up FREE Gingerbread House Kits to get you started at the Port Townsend Library from November 21st – 30th, 2022 (while supplies last).     

Holiday Pet Pawtraits with Santa

December 18th, 1-4 at the Chamber, renowned photographer Jeffrey Fong will along with Santa be on site taking holiday photos of your pet. Proceeds of this event benefit Kiwanis as well as the Community Development Fund providing small business grants in Jefferson County.

Please register your pet(s) to reserve your spot between 1 and 4 pm. This event is open to the public with no memberships of any kind required. Please register for the time frame you prefer. There are limited registrations for each hour to ensure you and your pet a fabulous Santa experience.

Register for 1-2pm  |  Register for 2-3pm  |  Register for 3-4pm

Steaming Up the Holidays

Whether you rock gears and goggles, bustle or bowler, this is the holiday opportunity to come out and kick it old school. Olympic Express Big Band brings sassy, brassy horns and rhythm for an absinthe-infused evening of dancing. The Brass Screw Consortium and Olympic Peninsula Steam invite you to join us at the American Legion Hall where the halls are decked, the hosts are jolly, and the fruit cake will keep you toasty all night long. Come as you are – Victorian, Steampunk, fancy dress, blue jeans. It’s the spirit, the season and the swing that matter!

December 17th, from 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm
American Legion Hall, 209 Monroe St, Port Townsend, WA 98368

Tour the Winter Lights

The Port Townsend Main Street Program is lighting up Port Townsend! Sparkling white lights decorate the trees in the historic districts. Look for illuminated snowflakes coming to Uptown. The PT Main Street Program winter lights program runs November-February thanks to the City of Port Townsend LTAC. Main Street elves will be busy decorating. The Haller Fountain and Bell Tower lighting designs are created by Fyerlite Grip and Lighting Services.

These 2022 Holiday Happenings are sponsored by the Port Townsend Main Street Program, participating businesses, the City of Port Townsend and Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC), New American Funding, and Richmond American Homes. Media sponsors include the Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader and KPTZ 91.9 FM. 

On Saturday October 8, 2022 from 10am to 3pm, join us at the Jefferson County Chamber for the 1st Annual EV EXPO!

Located on Jefferson Street in front of the Chamber and Visitor Information Center, we are showcasing EVs, EV benefits, and new EV technology. The expo will also feature panels on topics such as cost of ownership, FAQs on charging, and how to choose the right EV for you.

For more information, please visit the Chamber’s website.

USA TODAY’s 10Best travel experts carefully selected a list of the 20 notable small towns to visit for their culinary offerings around the country and polled their readers to decide on the best. The readers have spoken and narrowed it down to 10 winning destinations with “big food scenes with chef-driven restaurants, local flavors and plenty of variety, especially given their small size.” Port Townsend, WA won a spot on the list of “10 Best”.

“We are thrilled to see the restaurants in Port Townsend and the hard-working people who run them and work in them recognized for this award, particularly as it’s our first time being selected for this honor”, remarked Arlene Alen, Executive Director of  The Chamber of Jefferson County serving as the Destination Marketing Organization for the City of Port Townsend.

Complete information may be found at Best Small Town Food Scene Winners (2022) | USA TODAY 10Best

Congratulations to all these winning towns!

The Top Ten Winners are:

1. Abingdon – Virginia
2. Thibodaux – Louisiana
3. Lewisburg – West Virginia
4. Newberg – Oregon
5. Stillwater – Minnesota
6. Los Alamos – California
7. Port Townsend – Washington
8. Vail – Colorado
9. Traverse City – Michigan
10. Hammonton – New Jersey