Residents again will brave the Snow Dragon during the annual community holiday celebration and parade Saturday, Dec. 11, in Haines.
“The favorite in the parade is the Snow Dragon,” said Joan Carlson, Haines Chamber of Commerce manager. “All the kids watch for that.”
Santa Claus also will be a popular guest, she said.
“The visitor center is going to be open at noon, but Santa doesn’t come until 1 o’clock, so most activities are beginning at 1 o’clock,” Carlson said. “From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., there will be pictures with Santa at the visitor center. We will be taking Polaroid pictures, and those are free.”
Other entertainment includes 3:30 p.m. story time with Mrs. Claus at the Haines Borough Public Library, and the 4:30 p.m. parade. Lining up for the parade starts 4 p.m. at the Elks Lodge.
The Snow Dragon has been a parade participant for about 20 years, said Annette Smith.
“He’s a Chinese dragon and he snakes down the street and he’s taunted by firecrackers and he roars and his eyes flash,” she said. “He’s accompanied by music and roars.”
Smith created the beast with Tresham Gregg and Jim Shook to encourage shopping at home.
“Runners run alongside the dragon and pass out sparklers to the kids, and I think that’s probably the big draw, too,” she said. “For some reason or other, he delights and terrifies the onlookers.”
Also on Dec. 11, the Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center will have a 1-4 p.m. open house.
“We have our usual model trains up, and we have little exhibits of miniatures,” said Jerrie Clarke, director. “For instance, Deborah Vogt has already brought in a scale model of part of her house … The trains are an annual thing that have been going on for years and years, and the miniatures are something we started last year.”
She said the museum would have “all kinds of little items that are on exhibit.”
“Last year, somebody brought in toy soldiers,” Clarke said. “This year, someone has brought in a collection of little baskets and ceramic pots.”
The museum also will offer ornament making and a scavenger hunt for kids. Wrapping paper and seashell and moose ornaments will be a few of the craft options.