The holiday season kicks off with two big celebrations Friday in Ashe County. One is to provide a grand send-off to the White House Christmas tree leaving here for the nation’s capitol, and the other is a community event to kick off shopping and Choose and Cut time in the High Country.

The 2007 White House Christmas Tree Celebration takes place at 2 p.m. on Friday with a reception at Ashe County Courthouse in Jefferson. Folks will gather in the rotunda to honor Joe Freeman and family of Mistletoe Meadows Farm in Laurel Springs whose 24-year-old 20-foot Fraser fir was chosen to decorate the Blue Room this year. Special guests will offer comments and folks can enjoy cookies and cider. The tree will arrive in a refrigerated truck on its way to Washington.

After the courthouse reception, you can head out to Jefferson Landing to see and vote on the delicious looking entries in the Gingerbread House Extravaganza. Cooks from around the area have set up their magical creations in the lobby of the clubhouse. A silent auction will be conducted on the gingerbread houses from Nov. 23 to Dec. 17 with all proceeds going to the Imagination Library. Vote with your donation and win a house while helping a worthwhile cause. Jefferson Landing has also opened the clubhouse for public dining during the event.

Once you’ve enjoyed the gingerbread houses and a tasty meal at Jefferson Landing, make some reindeer tracks to West Jefferson for the Community Christmas Tree Lighting and holiday event in the BackStreet Park on Second Avenue. There will be free soup provided by Ashe Outreach Ministries “Soup For You” program along with hot chocolate and other refreshments. Join in singing Christmas carols with songbooks and glowing luminaries provided. Santa Claus is expected to arrive around 5 p.m. in an antique fire truck from the West Jefferson Fire Department, and then Joe Freeman will light the community Christmas tree around 5:15 p.m. Then it will be time for some earlybird Christmas shopping in the downtown businesses.

You can continue your holiday shopping on Saturday, Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the second of four Holiday Markets at the Ashe County Farmers Market on Second Avenue. Vendors will offer a wide variety of crafts, baked goods, greenery and more. Markets continue on Saturday, Dec. 1 and 8.

And the weekend offers a great time to get out and find that perfect Christmas tree among the many Choose and Cut locations in Ashe County. A map of the participating sites is located on the wall of Active Realty across from Brickstone Pizza on Main Street and enlarged maps can be seen at the county courthouse in Jefferson, Chamber of Commerce, Smoky Mountain Barbeque and Nation’s Inn in West Jefferson and Mountain Aire Seafood and Steaks in Glendale Springs. Brochures of the Choose and Cut locations will be available by the end of this week and can be found in businesses all over Ashe County and in outside boxes at many of those businesses. Visitors to the county will see signs along the major highways leading into Ashe County saying “Official Choose and Cut Information Ahead.”

All of these activities are arranged through the collaboration of various organizations under the umbrella of the West Jefferson Community Partnership. “We have brought together the Business Association and Tourism Development Authority in West Jefferson, the Chamber of Commerce, the Farmers Market, the Arts Council and the Ashe County Christmas Tree Growers Association for this event,” said Carol Dodson with the Partnership. “It’s about partnership for the 10 days of Choose and Cut, kicking off on Nov. 23. Each of the participants has given money, or sponsored an event, or both for this celebration. It is a partnership to promote a wonderful economic activity that happens this time of year in Ashe County.”

Dodson said that businesses in the downtown area have purchased real greenery garlands to decorate and everyone gets 25 feet free from a local grower. They will use this greenery in their own decorations to create a unique look and give the downtown a festive feel.

Visitors to West Jefferson can also see the beautifully decorated Christmas trees during the ninth annual Festival of Trees at the Ashe County Arts Center and Christmas Craft Marketplace with unique and original works of art. The festival continues through the holiday season. Call 846-ARTS for information.

For more information about the “10 Days of Choose and Cut,” contact the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce at 846-9550.