Bring joy to your holiday season by taking part in the plethora of holiday events and local shopping available on Whidbey Island. Here’s a list of what to do and where to shop local to celebrate the holidays and support the local community this season.

Saturday, Nov. 24 is SHOP LOCAL DAY!

Langley Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Holiday Cheer Giveaway where one lucky shopper will win $1,000 for supporting Langley’s businesses. Spend just $20 and you’re entered into the giveaway and every $20 spent with participating businesses gets you another white giveaway ticket. The giveaway runs through Saturday, Dec. 22, when at 3 p.m. the winning ticket will be drawing at Boy & Dog Park on First Street. Winners must be 18 years of age and present at the drawing to win. Tickets can be donated to local non-profit organizations, but a representative from the organization must be present at the drawing.

Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association hosts its annual Red Ticket Drawing for local shoppers. Shop, dine and stay in Coupeville with more than 30 merchants participating and be eligible to win $1,000 cash prize or three $100 cash prizes at the Sunday, Dec. 23 drawing at 1 p.m. in front of the Island County Historical Museum. Winners must be present to accept prizes. All prizes that go unclaimed will be donated to a local nonprofit by the merchants.

Find out all about Coupeville’s shop local extravaganza here.

Also, check out this comprehensive schedule of holiday happenings in around Coupeville and Greenbank.

Greenbank Farm will host caroling and holiday lighting on Friday, Nov. 23 from 4:30 to 5 p.m. Come gather with other community members as we watch the sun set, enjoy warm apple cider, sing carols with Vern and Karl Olsen and light up the tractor at the Farm.

Saturday, Dec. 1

The Greening of Coupeville from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m in downtown Coupeville. Christmas Parade at Main and Front streets.
Enjoy the arrival of Santa, and holiday floats; the lighting of the Christmas tree at Cook’s Corner Park at Main and 9^th with a sing-along of Christmas Carols with Vern and Karl Olsen.

• Annual Christmas Art & Antiques Walk,
Historic Coupeville at 5 p.m.
• Oak Harbor Boat Parade of
Lights, Coupeville Wharf 
(weather permitting) at 6 p.m.
• Langley Holiday Parade at 11 a.m., complete with a float contest, begins at 6th Street and Cascade Avenue and winds its way down Second Street along Anthes Avenue and then back up First Street.
• Holiday Arts Walk from 5 to 7 p.m. with art galleries decorated for the holidays and  showcasing regional artists. Featured artists will be there to meet with gallery visitors.
• All weekend enjoy Langley’s downtown winter wonderland as lights twinkle, garlands trim the quaint shops and Candy Cane Lane connects the waterfront, downtown and Langley Village on Second Street.
• Langley Main Street Association hosts “Deck Your Doors” where more than 50 Langley merchants will have their doors and store fronts decorated to ring in the season. Deck Your Doors is a fundraiser for Good Cheer Food Bank. Visitors can vote with pennies at participating stores for their favorite door, to create the “Plum Puddin’ Pennies” that will be donated in the name of the winning store after the contest ends on Sunday, Dec. 23. Winners will be announced at noon on Sunday, Dec. 23 at Boy & Dog Park on First Street. The donation to Good Cheer will be made in the name of the winning business.
• Holiday Run in Coupeville! Jingle Trail 5K Fun Run &Walk through the scenic trails of Camp Casey Conference Center just outside the Town of Coupeville. Registration opens at 8.30 a.m. and the Fun Run and Walk starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Contact the Chamber at 678-5434 or email director@centralwhidbeychamber.com for entry form or they are available at the Coupeville Library, Whidbey Island Bank and the Coupeville Chamber of Commerce.

Sunday, Dec. 2

• Holiday Run in Langley! Fourth Annual Elf Chase/5K fundraiser Walk or Run in  Langley at 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m at the Crow’s Nest at Community Park, upstairs above the concession stand. All ages welcome; the event is free. Music, fire engine rides, refreshments, free digital pictures with Santa all to benefit the Langley Middle School PTSA.

“On Pins and Needles” by Anne Belov is at Rob Schouten Gallery in Greenbank.

GIFT SHOWS FOR LOCAL HOLIDAY SHOPPING

• Anne X2: Celebrate the season with artists Anne Davenport and Anne Belov from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday Nov. 23 and Saturday Nov. 24. Shop for fine, hand-woven scarves and vibrant, colorful paintings and prints. The artists will be on hand to talk about their work, the events of the day, pandas and anything besides the weather!  The studio is at 5131 Blacktail Lane. For more info call 360-321-4619.

• Holiday Market at Greenbank Farm: Holiday Markets will be held the first four weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 23, 24 and 25; Dec. 1 and 2; Dec. 8 and 9; Dec. 15 and 16. Enjoy holiday music and warm beverages, while perusing quality handmade products produced locally. Santa will be on hand Saturdays from noon to 2 p.m.

• Galeria Chiropractica in Bayview presents The ChromoAlchemy Holiday 2012 Exhibit featuring Kim Tinuviel’s Abstract Impressionistic Photography. An artist’s opening celebration is from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 6 with refreshments served.
  Take a look at the artist’s work here and also at Brackenwood Gallery in Langley.
  Galeria Chiropractica is located in the Bayview Sears House at 2812 Meinhold Road in Langley and the show will be on display Dec. 1 through Jan 31. Viewing times outside of opening celebration is on an  appointment-preferred drop-in basis. Please call 331-5565 to schedule.

• Annual Holiday Art and Craft Sale at Freeland Hall: Support local artists with this fair that happens Dec 7, 8 and 9. (6 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.) Find glassware, ceramics, jewelry, locally authored books, cards, metalworks, textiles, original photos and tasty snacks.  Email  Carol Dean at info@deantile.com for more information.

• Holiday Market on Pioneer: Unique holiday gifts are for sale by local arts and crafts vendors on Pioneer Way in Oak Harbor.  The market runs for four weekends, Nov. 23-25, Dec. 1-2, Dec.r 7-9 and Dec. 15-16.  Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the following exceptions:  Dec. 1 is “Holiday Magic on Pioneer” which is the annual tree lighting, arrival of Santa and a caroling and music competition.  Those hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.;  and on Dec. 7, the market is open until 7 p.m. to coincide with “First Friday Art Walk and Late Night Shopping.”

• Galleries and other Gift Shows: Wander into any Whidbey Island gallery and see the work of local artists who have created works appropriate for gift-giving. Check the websites for information at MUSEO, Brackenwood Gallery, Whidbey Art Gallery, Rob Schouten Gallery, Raven Rocks Gallery, Christina’s Real Estate and Fine Art Gallery and Artworks Gallery.

• Country Christmas at the Fair in Langley is down home country-style arts and crafts fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. hosted by the Island County Fair Association in the Coffman Building at the Fairgrounds. Gift boutique with over 40 local vendors and artists, fresh trees and wreaths, tasty treats. Kids can enjoy photos with Santa, face painting, and hayrides. Complimentary coffee, tea, or hot cider and a hot lunch will be available for purchase.

At top, “On Pins and Needles” by Anne Belov, oil over egg tempera; $1,600 and available at Rob Schouten Gallery in Greenbank.