By SCOTT D. JOHNSTON

One of the area’s largest and most generous free community events, the Kiwanis North Beach Kids Christmas Party takes place at the Ocean Shores Convention Center this Saturday, Dec. 16 from 1-4 p.m. Over 400 kids ages 12 and under from the North Beach and Taholah school districts will share in over 1,300 free gifts, holiday treats and Santa pictures at the event.

The program includes a separate Youth Christmas Party for North Beach School District students in grades 7 through 12. That will take place Sunday, December 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ocean Shores Elks Lodge, 199 Ocean Lake Way.

The event is beloved in the area as a simple and sweet outpouring of affection for the children of the North Coast. It involves lots and lots of free toys and is the payoff of the annual, year-long effort to obtain, store, wrap, transport and distribute them, all done with donations and volunteers.

It enjoys community-wide support and is conducted under the Kiwanis Club banner, which means contributions of cash and merchandise are tax deductible.

At the party, each child receives three gifts, choosing one toy from selections offered at each of three value levels. In addition, each has a chance to win one of about 120 premium gifts such as bicycles and giant stuffed animals. Children and their parents also enjoy refreshments and each child who wishes can have their photo taken with Santa. The annual project also provides clothing, everything from pajamas to boots, to needy kids. This year 74 clothing gift packages were wrapped.

The Kids Christmas Party has been spearheaded for many years by Donovan and Pat Scott, who retired to Ocean Shores 16 years ago. Around two dozen volunteers are involved in the effort at various times throughout the year, with most on hand in the days leading up to and during the actual event. The last few weeks each year before the event include a lot of unpacking boxes, sorting by various criteria, assembling, toy testing and more. The Elks host a huge gift wrapping party.

The Scotts work on this project pretty much year round, and one of their favorite parts of the whole experience happens only a week or so after each year’s big event. They love to buy new toys at 75% off in the days immediately after Christmas.

They’ve devoted considerable storage space at their bayside home to collect the cache of bargains. During the two days it takes to move everything into the Convention Center, a human chain passes boxes, bags, bicycles and big bears to volunteered vehicles. The Scotts also receive loads of toys and clothes from several groups, including new bicycles from the Los Hombres Motorcycle Club.

And, over the years, they have built a base of cash contributors that continues to grow. “…a string of people that write checks,” Pat Scott said, “some for 10 or 20 dollars, some for hundreds.”

Donovan said that, “A man called me just last week who said he’d seen something about the Kids Party in the paper. He said he was new to town, liked the idea and wanted to help. About 20 minutes later he was here with a $100 check.”

Tax deductible donations can be made, checks payable to, the Kiwanis Kids Christmas, P.O. Box 98, Ocean Shores, WA 98569. For more information, call Donovan or Pat Scott at 360-289-4608.

‘The Rented Christmas’

The Rented Christmas, this year’s Stage West Community Theatre holiday play, continues at the Lions Club, 832 Ocean Shores Blvd. NW. The curtain goes up at 7 p.m. on Dec. 15 and 16, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday Dec. 17.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available at Dolores & Faye’s, Mocha Madness, Ocean Shores Animal Hospital, Ocean Shores Convention Center Visitor’s Information Center and at the door.

The story is a funny and heartwarming tale of a middle-aged bachelor and prominent businessman who has a challenging job for the proprietor of the local rent shop: He wants to rent a Christmas, not just with a tree and Christmas carols, but complete with a wife, a family, and all of the happiness for which he has been secretly longing.

Young actors in the cast include Isabel Harnagy, Samara Gibson, Keira Gibson and newcomer Joey Owen. Ensemble singers who are each new to Stage West are Max Fisher, Emmilee Findley-Macasieb, Miriam Wilkerson and Alicia Heyd. The local theater group welcomes back familiar adult faces Karin Noble, Rich Smith, Anna Frazier, Angie Long, and Michael Barbero, and newcomer Bill Young. More information is available online at www.stagewestcommunitytheatre.org.

‘December to Remember’

Oyhut Bay is partnering with the Coastal Interpretive Center and KOSW 91.3 FM radio for a “December to Remember” event.

On Friday Dec. 15, Santa is scheduled to arrive in the Village Square at 5 p.m. courtesy of Ed Duncan’s Classic Hot Rods. He will cruise into the plaza in a red and white ’57 Impala. The Village Square is decorated with over 25 lighted trees selected from Beerbower’s Tree Farm in Elma. Santa will be greeted by caroling led by youth from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A holiday pet costume contest will be at 7 p.m. in the village Square, hosted by KOSW.

Seabrook’s Surfin’ Santa

A new tradition is coming to Seabrook this holiday season — the first annual Surfin’ Santa and Holiday Lights Parade. The route is along Seabrook Avenue, Meriweather Merchants, and Front Street to watch the Parade of lights and gather up candy canes. Parades will start at 5 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 16 and on Dec. 23.

Seabrook also hosts Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 17 from 9-11 a.m. at Mill 109 restaurant with a breakfast buffet.

Santa makes an appearance at the Kiwanis Kids Christmas Party.