To get your event included on the Cricket Country Calendar, Call Bicoastal Media 541-926-8628

Meals on Wheels provide nourishing meals, friendly smiles an regular safety check to older adults and people with disabilities in their homes or at the community dinning sites.  Our local Chapter is looking for volunteers to deliver meals each week. In as little as 2-3 hours each week you can make a positive impact on your community! Deliveries are made Monday, Tuesday, Friday.

To volunteer and help make someones day please contact the Volunteer coordinator: volunteers@ocwog.org  or call at 541-812-6015

Giving Tuesday

 Help Us Reach Our Goal for Addison & MaKenzie 

We’re so close! Thanks to the incredible support from our community, we’ve raised $8,986 out of our $10,000 goal to help two remarkable young women facing challenging neurological diagnoses.

 Help us reach that final milestone! Please share this paypal link with your customers and friends. Every donation, no matter the size, gets us closer to our goal. And to show our gratitude, all donors will receive a thank-you t-shirt which can be picked up at our clinic.

 Read their stories and donate here with the link

https://paypal.com/donate/?campaign_id=K9DQKQE6E9RL4&source=url

Raffle (***Update! All donations from raffle ticket purchases are being matched through Friday 12/6) The Macy Elizabeth Foundation is holding their annual Holiday Raffle has started & you won’t want to miss out on your chance to win (2) Round-trip Alaska Airline tickets, anywhere they fly–with no black out dates or restrictions (up to $1250 per ticket/$2500 total value) + much more!Get your tickets through the secure donorbox here  By purchasing raffle tickets, you are helping us to assist families in Oregon who have lost a child, or have a child coming home on end-of-life care. It provides funding for support, which includes helping to pay for funeral & burial expenses and much more, depending on the need & situation.So far in 2024 we have been able to help 30 families. We receive referrals from all over Oregon–including Randall Children’s Hospital, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Children’s Cancer Association & many Oregon Hospice/Palliative care groups. We appreciate your support, which allows us to continue helping these families who are facing the heartbreak of child loss.

Holiday Festivals and Markets

Nov. 21^st -Dec 31^st Silverton Christmas Market 5pm- 9pm| An awe inspiring light display and market at the Oregon Garden Resort. The annual event offers magical holiday experiences for all ages. This year features more lights than ever with 1.5 million lights, new and improved light displays, local artisan vendors, booths dedicated in to handmade German imported goods such as nutcrackers and more. Features a walk through immersive light display, Snowless tubing, Pictures with Santa, Live music, a biergarten, international cuisine and drink including Mary’s famous hand breaded schnitzel Sandwich. Inspired by Authentic German  Christmas Markets. Get your tickets and more information here

Nov 22^nd– Dec. 22^nd Holiday Village Oregon State Fair Expo Center 5p-10p| The livestock pavilion will transform to a charming market with live music, visits with Santa on the weekends, 8 classic carnival rides from Ranier Amusements, and Fox 12’s Magic of Lights will be running. The market will include unique gifts, delicious food and drinks. Thursday-Friday 5pm- 10 pm, Saturday-Sunday 11am- 10pm, Closed Thanksgiving day. Parking is free when touring the Magic of Lights, or $5.find out more here

Nov 22^nd – Jan 4 Magic of Lights by Fox 12 Oregon at the Oregon State Fair Grounds| Drive through holiday lights experience featuring holiday favorite scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED technology, and digital animations. Experience Magic of Lights from the comfort and safety of your own car as you wind through the sparkling path of Salem’s new holiday tradition! 1 Car load , 1 price.Find out more here

Nov 22^nd-Dec 7^th 10 am -5pm Christmas at the Roost| Visit the enchanting holiday shop as the perfect start to the holiday season. Located I nthe beautiful countryside of North Albany in a 100+ year old barn the shop will be filled with antiques, collectibles, and handmade gifts with a vintage charm from 30 local crafters. There will be fresh greens, baked goods, and more! Fresh Cranberry Tea is served daily. Open Fridays and Saturdays beginning Nov. 22^nd– Dec. 7^th 10 a- 5pm Find out more here.

Nov. 30- December 22^nd 2024  Christmas Story Book Land  Saturday and Sunday 10a-8p, Monday 4pm-8 pm| Relive your favorite Childhood nursery rhymes, fairy tales and family movies in a magical indoor walk through forest. This year the Famed Pastega Lights will be included! Entry is free but commercially packaged food for the local food bank are gladly accepted. Special days are scheduled throughout, be sure to check those here.

December 2024

Dec 1^st 5pm Down town Twice Around Parade and Community Tree Lighting Ceremony|  The Downtown Twice Around Parade rolls through the streets of Historic Downtown Albany on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. The parade starts promptly at 5 pm. Rain or Shine. Entries typically include the Albany Trolley, Horse Drawn Wagon, community groups, schools, businesses and Santa riding on Albany’s Antique Fire Truck! The parade route starts at the corner of Broadalbin Street and First Avenue, heads West down First past the Albany Carousel, turns South (left) on Calapooia to Second Avenue, turns East (left) on Second to Broadalbin and North (left) on Broadalbin to First then we go around again ending up back where we started at Broadalbin Street and First Avenue. With an 8-block route, lots of front-row seating is available for viewing the parade. Second Avenue and Broadalbin tend to be more crowded, while First Avenue and Washington are usually less crowded. There will be a short break between the parade and tree lighting for attendees to reposition for the Community Tree Lighting Ceremony. There is ample viewing space in the Two Rivers Market parking lot, corner Ferry and Second. The parade is hosted by the Albany Downtown Association.

Dec. 1 – Dec. 25^th Twilight Tracks 5-8:15pm| Dress cozy and be prepared to share cheer with friends and family enjoy a ¼ scale train ride through 4 acres and thousands of lights. Running Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday evenings. 5 pm – 8:15pm. Admission: Adults (13+) $9, Child (2-12) $8, 1 and under – Free, Ride is approximately 8-10 minutes, No advanced tickets, first come first serve. Cash preferred,Find out more here

Dec. 6^th 7:3o pm OSU- Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert LaSells Stewart Center| Conducted by Erik Leung, Steven Zielke, Sandra Babby, Vivaldi, Magnificat, Runestad, in the the Light , and Seasonal selections. Tickets in Advanced: $40, Day of Show: $45, Students: Free find out more here

Dec. 7^th A fairytale Holiday Tea Party with Snow White -Salem’s Riverfront Carousel 11am-3:30| Enjoy this magical tea party with Snow White. The princess will entertain while you enjoy a variety of tea sandwiches, desserts and tea. A keepsake photo and carousel rides are included. Children 2 and under are free, with a paid adult. Admission: $35. Find out more here

Dec. 8th Brothers Collection Museum, Project Joy, Toy Drive| Project Joy services, Polk, Marion and Linn county, Kids in care and resource families. Featuring the Brothers Collection Museum the largest privately owned car museum! This museum features over 600 cars and 117,000 square feet! Entry for this event is a $10 ticket and an unwrapped gift for a child in care. Children 12 and under are free entry. You can purchase tickets and additional information here.Cash Donations can be made here Some gift donation requests can be found here

Dec. 21 Silent Book Club Deluxe Brewing 1:30-3pm| Enjoy the unique experience of silent book club. Arrive early, grab a refreshments, and settle in, Enjoy an hour of silent reading, afterwards stay and socialize, share your book or feel free to leave. No book discussions, or required readings. Bring your chosen reading material and enjoy. Find out more here: