Many people complain about seeing holiday lights for sale before the first day of school or seeing Christmas commercials on TV before they’ve picked out their Halloween costume.
But in Kirkland, the first weekend in November has been reserved as the unofficial start to the holiday season for two decades.
“She just gets everyone going,” said Carol Reinertson about Lesley Paige, the musical director at Thoreau Elementary. “Last year we were out here and it was all umbrellas.”
Saturday the rain stayed away and the sun’s heat was the only rival for the warmth created by the Thoreau Elementary Honor Choir, as they sang Christmas carols for the 20th year in front of Mark’s Hallmark Store at Totem Lake Malls.
This year, 64 kids, grades 3-6, sang 18 songs for more than 100 spectators.
Hallmark honored Paige with a bouquet of roses and the CEO of Mark’s Hallmark, Jim Cox, drove up from Portland to be there in person.
“This has become a November tradition,” said Cox. “It gives the kids an opportunity to perform and it is just fun for everybody.”
The event also marks the first visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus to Kirkland each year. The couple makes their appearance at the end of the performance, after the choir sings “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and hands out candy canes to the kids.
The first weekend of November is Hallmark’s open house, but Cox, who has been with the company for 32 years, said that the Kirkland event with the Thoreau choir is unique.
“This is an incredible experience because it is all about community,” said Reinertson, store manager.
Paige has been the musical director at Thoreau for 26 years and said the kids begin learning the song list on Oct. 1. She meets with the kids twice a week and the sixth-grade soloists six times a week.
The kids’ dedication to the choir is evident by the fact that the meetings take place during recess.
“I just love it,” said Paige, who is seeing generations of family members participate. “I had a little first grader ask me ‘can I have your job?’ It is amazing. I have produced eight music teachers.”
Most of the crowd was parents and family members of the singers. But some of the parents have as much dedication to the event as the kids.
“I need to have another child go through Thoreau just so they will sing in the choir,” joked parent volunteer Kim Jones.
The performance also included former students coming back to sing with the elementary school kids. But Paige said that each year is unique and a highlight of the school year.
She admitted that she had no idea it would last this long.
“I had been shopping here forever and mentioned something, it just connected,” said Paige.
The event kicks off a holiday season of four performances for the choir, including 1 p.m. on Nov. 19 at Barnes and Noble in Woodinville, 1 p.m. on Dec. 10 at Redmond Town Center and 7 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the Thoreau Elementary School.
“One down, three more to go,” said Paige.
