Oak Harbor Lights Up Downtown with Parade and Tree Lighting
Oak Harbor hosted its annual holiday celebration on December 6, 2025, featuring a cookies and cocoa kickoff, a lighted boat parade across the bay, a Santa parade along SE Pioneer Way, and a community tree lighting downtown. The event brought local businesses, sponsors, and families together, highlighting the economic and civic value of seasonal programming in the heart of the city.
Downtown Oak Harbor came alive on December 6, 2025, as residents and visitors gathered for the citys annual parade and tree lighting. Festivities began at 4:00 PM with Cookies and Cocoa at The Collective, sponsored by Haggen and Whidbey Coffee. Live carolers strolled along Pioneer Way while the Lighted Boat Parade was visible across the bay between approximately 4:00 and 4:30 PM.
At 4:30 PM the Home for the Holidays Santa Parade supported by Edward Jones and Eric Schelling moved down SE Pioneer Way from SE Ely Street to SE Midway Boulevard. Following the parade the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony sponsored by Astound took place at the corner of Dock and Pioneer Way and included a special visit from Santa. Participation in the parade was free and organizers accepted registrations online prior to the event. For questions attendees could contact Cheryl Grehan at director@OakHarborMainStreet.com or by phone at 360 279 8995.
Beyond the seasonal atmosphere, the event underscored measurable community benefits. The concentration of programming and corporate sponsorships funneled foot traffic toward downtown merchants and food vendors, reinforcing holiday spending patterns that are vital for small businesses during December. Local sponsors including Haggen Whidbey Coffee Edward Jones and Astound demonstrated private sector support for public celebration and helped underwrite costs that would otherwise fall to municipal budgets.
City and public safety partners coordinated logistics for a parade route along SE Pioneer Way and maritime visibility of the boat parade, showing the operational demands of staging large free events in a small city setting. These coordination efforts reflect ongoing policy trade offs between promoting economic activity and managing traffic parking and sanitation needs in the downtown core.
For residents the event offered more than retail lift. It reinforced social ties and civic identity at a time when community gatherings play an increasing role in downtown revitalization strategies. Organizers say participation remains open each year and residents seeking more information or wishing to get involved can reach out to Oak Harbor Main Street using the contact information provided.
