“Yelm’s Small-Town Charm, Heritage and Community Spirit Culminates at Christmas in the Park”

“Dogs in holiday sweaters. Riders on horseback. Tractors festooned with reindeer antlers. And of course, children everywhere, craning to get a look at Santa, squatting to pick up candy thrown out of passing parade floats and tugging their parents onto the next activity or cup of hot chocolate. Throw in a live soundtrack performed by choir students from six elementary schools, two middle schools and Yelm High School, plus two bands, and you have Christmas in the Park, Yelm’s annual celebration of community spirit.

“On December 7, the Yelm Chamber of Commerce and City of Yelm hosted the 31st annual event and this year, the weather cooperated. This year’s theme was the T’was the Night, a concept developed by the Chamber’s Activities Committee. ‘We wanted something that was fun and really captured the holiday magic and spirit of this event,’ says Line Critchfield, chamber executive director. ‘This theme made it easy for people to come up with their own ideas and really get into the spirit of Christmas,'” by Hedi Smith, in Thurston Talk. Read more

“Spread the Word: Yelm’s Business-Friendly Makeover”

“The secret is out: Yelm is flourishing with vibrant, successful businesses that add one-of-a-kind services and unique character to a city once rumored to be “business unfriendly.” Now, after streamlining initial procedures and offering educational opportunities, Yelm is welcoming more new businesses than at any other time in Yelm’s history,” by Heidi Smith, in Thurston Talk. Read more