By Corvo Rohwer, Puyallup Tribal News
With Santa hard at work preparing for the holiday season, the Events Department is doing its part, as well, preparing for the upcoming Christmas Experience at the Tribe’s 72nd Street property.
Beginning the day after k’ʷədidəɫdat (Day of Thankfulness and Potlatch Days), the experience will be open from Nov. 28 to Dec. 21, and will feature low-cost Christmas trees and wreaths, photo opportunities with Santa, an ice-skating rink and plenty of food trucks/vendors.
Events Director Chester Earl said he wanted to ensure Tribal Members would have access to Christmas trees by providing them at a low cost, with classic Douglas firs being offered between $45-$50 and nobles priced at $70-$80.
“Last year, I went out to buy a Christmas tree, and I went to a local place and my family picked out the tree. It was $150 for our tree, and I realized there’s a lot of people who don’t have $150 for a Christmas tree,” Earl said.
Along with the trees and wreaths, the Events Department wanted to include additional activities like the ice-skating rink to offer families a more well-rounded holiday experience that extended beyond just purchasing a tree.
Earl also said his team is leaning in to the event by putting together a train-car ride by hand for children to ride in.
“We want to provide an affordable and family-oriented event,” Earl said. “Being able to provide an experience for families rather than just going out and spending money on a Christmas tree. That’s exciting, that’s fun.”
The tree lot will be open daily alongside the Food Truck Village, with the ice-rink running sessions Wednesdays through Sundays. The train ride and photo opportunities with Santa will be operating exclusively on the weekends. For more information regarding open hours or inquiries about the event, please reach out to CommunityEvents@PuyallupTribe-NSN.gov.
