There's lots of holiday spirit flowing through the Yakima Valley in Washington state this month (December 2009). Here's a look at some of the highlights you can enjoy...

Lighted Farm Implement Parade - December 5

• Downtown Sunnyside
• Featured on A&E Ultimate Holiday Town USA in 2003, this has been one of the Northwest's premier lighted parades since 1989. This event is held downtown at 6pm and boasts more than 50 farm implements, vehicles, and floats covered with decorative lights. The parade route starts on Warehouse, turns south on 6th, turns east on Edison to Yakima Valley Hwy. For information, call Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce at 509-837-5939.

Downtown Christmas Lighted Parade - December 6

• Downtown Yakima, S. 6th and W. Yakima Ave.
• Yakima's annual Downtown Christmas Light Parade will commence at 5:30pm at South Sixth Avenue and go east down Yakima Avenue to South 3rd St. to Millennium Plaza. The lighting of the community Christmas tree will follow, along with a visit from Santa Claus who will pass out candy canes. The Stone Church Choir will perform.

6th Annual Old Fashioned Holiday Celebration- December 12

• Union Gap
• Family fun from 12pm-8pm at Ahtanum Youth Park, 1000 Ahtanum Road. There will be festive music, food and craft vendors, hot cider, hot dogs, chili, candy, and great holiday gifts. Santa and several of his reindeer will be there for photos with the kids.

Winterfest 2009 - December 12

• Benton City, 1107 Grace Ave.
• Dozens of crafts vendors, pictures with Santa Claus, reading nook with special guest readers, games and competitive activities for kids and adults at Ki-Be Middle School. A new featured activity this year is Psycho Santa Games. Participants can race through an obstacle course, play one-on-one bungee basketball, and joust to knock their opponent off a pedestal. There will also be a bounce house for younger children. Enter the gingerbread house contest and possibly win merchandise certificates for $10, $15 and $25. Entries accepted from 8-10am Saturday at Ki-Be Middle School. Winterfest is from 10am-4pm, with a visit from Santa at 2pm. It's followed by a lighted parade at 5pm.

Santa Trolley - December 12

• Yakima, South 3rd Ave. & West Pine
• From 11am-4pm, children will get to meet Santa Claus on the trolley and get a candy cane. There will be refreshments available in the powerhouse. Fares for this event is $3.00. For more information, visit www.yakimavalleytrolleys.org.

Christmas Lights Bus Tour- December 15

• Granger,121 Sunnyside Ave.
• Board the bus at approximately 6:30pm at the Community Center for a tour of Christmas lights decorations. Hot cocoa and cookies will be served at the Community Center. For information, call Curtis at 509-854-1696.

Toy Train Christmas - December 19-20

• Toppenish, 10 Asotin Ave.
• From 10am-4pm at the Northern Pacific Railway Museum, take a short Caboose ride to the "North Pole" where Santa and Mrs. Claus and several Elves will greet you. Lots of decorated Christmas trees, and many model trains running on small and large layouts. Admission: $6 adults, $4 kids 12 and under, includes cookies and hot chocolate and tours of the fully restored historic depot which originally opened in 1911. The Children's Craft area will allow children to create a keepsake to take home. Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus are available for an additional charge. For information, visit www.nprymuseum.org.

Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau has even more ideas for holiday fun in the area at visityakima.com.