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Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, the city of Klamath Falls is an idyllic and beautiful town. It sits on the edge of Upper Klamath Lake, the largest natural lake in the ecologically diverse Pacific Northwest. Only about 20,000 people live here, but there are plenty of visitors year-round taking advantage of the town's many outdoor activities and proximity to national parks.

Birdwatching, fishing, and canoe boating are a few of the great activities that visitors and locals enjoy in Klamath Falls, but in the winter there is one event that stands out above all the rest. For an entire week, the whole town gets together to watch parades, participate in contests, and compete in pageants. 2008 was the 25th anniversary of this Klamath tradition.

Lighting Ceremony

The celebrations begin in the first week of December, with a tree-lighting ceremony at City Hall. The large town Christmas Tree is always lit with colorful lights as the town's residents look on. This ceremony is an important way to signal the beginnings of the Christmas holiday season in southern Oregon.

The Parade

Following the tree-lighting, almost everyone from Klamath Falls and thousands of people from across the region line up along the historic Main Street and watch the big parade. The parade is the highlight of the Snowflake Festival, and each year residents try to outdo each other and build bigger and better floats. The local Klamath Tribe of American Indians usually has a very impressive float that reminds everyone of the native heritage of the area.

With the chilly temperatures, local merchants stay open late serving hot drinks and snacks for the spectators. Since this is the biggest day of the year for downtown Klamath Falls, shop and restaurant owners on Main Street say it is a very significant economic boost for their businesses.

Wonderland of Trees

Held in the Egyptian Plaza Center on Main Street, the Wonderland of Trees is a special and unique fund raiser for the Assistance League, which provides new winter clothing for more than 700 poor children each year. A silent auction and other fund raising events are held in conjunction with the popular display of decorated Christmas trees. Santa even stops by to take pictures and listen to gift requests from all the kids.

Contests

During the week, a mile-long run is held on Main Street, with a small entry fee benefiting the festival. The Snowflake Mile has been a part of the Snowflake Festival for the last 11 years. Runners are the only ones who don't notice how cold it is outside as they huff and puff down Main Street.

A coloring and essay contest allow kids of all ages to submit entries and have their artwork or writing displayed for the whole town to see. For candy craftsmen, a gingerbread house contest is also a tradition. After the contest you can see a display with all the gingerbread creations, which are always very impressive. One of the last events of the week is a fun doubles bowling tournament open to the whole town.

Visitors to Klamath Falls, Oregon during the Snowflake Festival will find a charming small-town festival that is full of fun events to help get in touch with the local culture. To find out the schedule for this year's Snowflake Festival, go to the Klamath Falls Chamber of Commerce website.

Learn more about this author, Shane Hampton.
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