Central Oregonian

Christmas in the Pines

The Crook County Fairgrounds will be twinkling with Christmas lights and festive exhibits during the 2013 Christmas season

RAMONA MCCALLISTER/CENTRAL OREGONIAN

Donna White, Chair for the Christmas in the Pines Committee (left) and Debbie Smith, the founder of the committee.

Ramona McCallister

January 31, 2013

Plans are in the works for a new Prineville Christmas tradition in 2013, and will result in a winter wonderland at the Crook County Fairgrounds during the month of December.

Christmas in the Pines will include a presentation of lights and displays for guests that will provide an enchanting drive route in the comfort of their vehicles, and culminates in a stop at the historic Grimes Christmas. The display of lights will loop from the entrance of the fairgrounds off of South Main Street to the road in front of the grandstands, and will follow the road by the Open Campus Building and the Grimes exhibit, and loop back out to the exit to Main Street. In addition to the lights and Grimes Exhibit, there will be decorations in the existing tress that line the entrance, a wagon ride, refreshments, and vendors for hot beverages.

Committee Chair for Christmas in the Pines Donna White indicated the entrance fee will include a food item or donation to the Humane Society of the Ochocos, and will provide a safe environment for all ages to enjoy during the holiday season.

She added that there are multiple opportunities to contribute to the project, and they have had a tremendous response from the community, including welders, artists, musicians, and various community members who wish to donate their time. The Crook County High School Choir and the Sweet Adelines have also offered to get involved in the festivities.

A committee was formed in January, and has held two meetings. They are currently looking for community members and businesses who would like to be a sponsor, make donations, or get involved in making Christmas scenes.

“Any Christmas display-like items, whether they are blow-up displays or lighted displays, will be used by the committee to build more Christmas displays or scenes,” said White.

She also indicated that the fairgrounds have been rented for this event from Nov. 30 through Dec. 28, 2013, and they are hopeful that Christmas in the Pines will attract not only local visitors, but other tourists as well.

The first annual event will be dedicated to Mike Rachor, a Powell Butte farmer who was born and raised in Crook County, and died in a tragic accident in the summer of 2012. Committee member Brad Bartlett indicated that when he was a teen, Raschor welded a 20-foot “Merry Christmas” sign that he hung up on his irrigation pivot every Christmas. His family donated the sign to the committee in his name, as well as some other Christmas items.

“He loved Christmas,” added Debbie Smith — who also started the committee for Christmas in the Pines.

“He was born and raised in Crook County, and it only seems fitting to memorialize somebody sometime, and here is the perfect opportunity,” added Bartlett.

Bartlett stated that he wanted to support Christmas in The Pines because it is an event where the community can come together. He has taken his family to Eagle Crest every year to their lighted Christmas display, and has really enjoyed it — although they are possibly discontinuing the event.

“We need a way to get the community together, so what a better time than Christmas.”

For more information about Christmas in the Pines, email deblou@crestviewcable.com

The committee for Christmas in the Pines

Debbie Smith, Donna White, Chair, Holly Imbach, Brad Bartlett, Kim Griffin, Casey Daly, Gailk Merritt, Kathy Gaillard, Beth Grimes, Barb Pennington, Shelly Marsh, Kim Hicks, Linda Cross, Bill Gowen, and Stacy Bernard.

The event will take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 38, 2013 at the Crook County Fairgrounds.