The festive time of year is upon us, and there are a number of community events planned to keep you in the holiday spirit.

If your creative side enjoys constructing a gingerbread house, get it completed and enter it in the Gingerbread Contest. Just take your gingerbread house to the Harney County Chamber of Commerce by 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, and it will automatically be entered into the contest the following day.

The annual Christmas Jamboree is Saturday, Dec. 7, and it offers holiday magic throughout the day.

Start the day by taking the youngsters to Breakfast with Santa from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Burns Elks Lodge.

Once you’ve fueled up with a hearty breakfast, you may decide it’s time to find some items on your gift list. There’s the Home Spun Christmas Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Harney County Fairgrounds, and the Holy Family Catholic Church Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You will also find great gift ideas at Robin’s Closet Mimosa Madness, and Oard’s Christmas Party in Buchanan.

The annual Christmas Jamboree also features plenty of activities for all ages. You can create your own crafts  from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at both the chamber office and at Harney County Fitness, and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Desert Dream Thrift Store.

If artwork is your forte, display your talent at the coloring contest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Broadway Deli, and give cookie decorating a try from 10 a.m. to noon at Annie’s Bakery.

No Christmas is complete without a photo of the family with jolly old Saint Nicholas, and Ruthie’s In His Image Photography is offering Pictures with Santa from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

You will undoubtedly need a trip to the grocery store to fill your pantry for the holidays, and Safeway makes the job more fun by offering free samples, a brownie walk, and more from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If all the shopping and activities have you worn down a bit, take a break by enjoying A Christmas Carol at the Desert Historic Theatre at 2 p.m. The price of admission is a non-perishable food item.

Finish off the day of fun and frivolity by attending the lighted Christmas Parade on North Broadway, sponsored by Umpqua Bank. Following the parade, warm your chilled bones at the bonfire, sponsored by LIFE Church, next to the Community Christmas Tree on West Monroe, across from Safeway. Santa will be there, and you can enjoy free hot dogs, cocoa, and coffee.

The next day, Sunday, Dec. 8, take in the sounds of the holiday season by attending the Chamber Music Society of Harney County’s Christmas Concert at 3 p.m. at the Harney County Church of the Nazarene in Hines.

For another dose of inspirational sounds of the holidays, there’s the Carols by Candlelight concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Harney County Church of the Nazarene.

Enjoy a Harney County Christmas!