Jacob Dimond / jake@yelmonline.com
With Christmas just a little over one month away, the City of Yelm’s parks and recreation department is packing the calendar with numerous holiday-related activities for community members to gather and enjoy.
Line Roy, Yelm communications and recreation coordinator, told the Nisqually Valley News on Monday, Nov. 17, that she believes the City of Yelm will host Christmas-related events that community members of all ages enjoy. She believes that the Christmas season is the best time of the year to be a Yelm resident.
“Yelm during Christmas is a literal Hallmark movie,” Roy said. “There is so much for our families to do. There is so much for everyone to do. You’ve got the activities that are really geared towards the kids, and there are activities geared more towards the teenagers and adults. The community blankets itself with Christmas spirit and holiday magic. It’s really cool to get to be a part of that and bring some fun to our community and our people.”
Activities
Christmas activities in Yelm will kick off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, with the “Creative Market: Crafted for Christmas” event at the Yelm Community Center. According to Roy, the vendor event will be focused on handmade and homemade products for shopping. It will also highlight professional artists and creatives from within the region.
Then, at 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1, the department will host the annual Christmas in the Park tree lighting ceremony. According to Roy, the Masters of Merriment for 2025’s Christmas in the Park celebration will be announced — all while Yelm City Park is lit up with holiday decorations.
The City of Yelm will also host a macrame gnome class at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4, at Yelm Community Center. Roy said the class costs $40 per person, and those interested can register for the event on the City of Yelm’s website.
Then, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, at the Yelm Community Center, the City of Yelm’s parks and recreation department will host free pictures with Santa. The department will provide all participants with one printed photo of their child with Santa.
The annual Christmas in the Park parade, hosted by Yelm Chamber of Commerce, will return at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, on Yelm Avenue. Line up for the event begins at 7:30 a.m. and several awards will be handed out to participants for best float and best entry. The route begins at Yelm Cinemas and concludes at Yelm Community Center.
Immediately after the conclusion of the parade, Christmas in the Park activities will commence from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Yelm City Park. According to Roy, there will be numerous free activities throughout the event for families to enjoy. The day of Christmas fun will conclude at 2 p.m. with a magic show on the City of Yelm’s Centennial Stage at the park.
“We partner with a bunch of businesses and organizations who come together to provide free and family-friendly fun for anyone who wants to join us,” Roy said. “It’s a really fun opportunity to bring your family out and really just kick off that holiday season.”
The department’s annual “Cocoa Trail” event is also set to return from 4 p.m. to 6 on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Yelm City Park. Roy said that community members can participate in the event for free, and that no registration is required. As participants walk throughout the “Cocoa Trail” at Yelm City Park, they’ll receive different ingredients at several stations to build their hot chocolate.
Roy said there’s “something for everyone to enjoy” when it comes to Christmas activities in Yelm, and she was telling the truth as from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Dec. 14, at Yelm’s Dog Park, community members can bring their four-legged friends to meet Santa for free photos.
Then, at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, the department’s annual “Winter Solstice Walk” will return at Cochrane Memorial Park in Yelm. The community is invited to gather underneath the stars and celebrate the longest evening of the year. The activity is free for participants to enjoy.
The final Yelm-hosted Christmas event of 2025 will be Santa’s Sleigh Ride — which begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18.
“Our public works department will drive Santa throughout town in the neighborhoods, so that kiddos can come out and give him a wave,” she said. “We’ll have some candy canes for the kids, and we’ll be escorting Santa throughout Yelm.”
