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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2025

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Strengthening a Tradition:

Christmas on Main in North Bend BY NATE SCHWARTZ Editor

Traditions start somewhere, and North Bend’s Christmas on Main celebration seems to be here to stay after another successful iteration of the event saw hundreds of residents out to soak up some holiday cheer. The town’s famous July Jubilee, which has been a staple of the community’s summer time has gained a seasonal sister come December in the last four years. “This is really just the beginning of these Hallmark-style movie events. We’ve always been known for our July Jubilee, and now I feel like this has become one of the other most anticipated events. This is our Winter Jubilee, so to speak,” said North Bend Mayor Jessica Engelke. “I love it, and I can’t thank the staff enough. There are hours of work

that go into it.” The day started with a visit from Santa to the North Bend Fire Department for a wafﬂe breakfast that included free books for kids from the North Bend Library. That same library held a story time with Mrs. Claus shortly after followed by an afternoon of free ice skating at the North Bend Ice Rink. The Cocoa Crawl was a family friendly adaptation of North Bend Main Street’s ever-so-popular wine walks, with local businesses dishing out festive treats to visitors. This all culminated in a block party at Grant Circle which ended with Mayor Engelke and Santa himself lighting the Christmas tree with the help of the July Jubilee Court. “North Bend is becoming known for these signature events over the last few years,” said Engelke. “Its all part of the council’s vision to really make this a community hub here, and it’s really been evolving. It all ties into our visitor’s center, and soon we’ll be opening the stage here thanks to the grant from T-Mobile,” said Engelke. The anchor and impetus for the whole celebration remains

the Lighted Christmas Parade, which was the ﬁrst of the traditions to pop up back in 2017 through the Fields family. Penni and Allen “Gator” Fields organized the ﬁrst parade as a memorial following the tragic loss of their grandson, Magnus, who loved trucks. Gator, who was a truck driver for over 35 years, gathered every fellow trucker he could to try and bring some joy back to the community. Since then, the city has taken the reigns of the event which has now evolved year-on-year into the full day celebration we celebrate annually, with Grant Circle being the hub for it all. “It’s really become like a town square,” said Engelke. “And that’s really what Grant Circle should be. What we hope it can be.” The evening was capped off with a Christmas Opry show at the Liberty Theatre. Between that and their A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever shows the Little Theatre on the Bay have been huge purveyors of holiday joy this year. With the whole of Main Street getting in on the act, it’s been hard not to catch the Christmas Spirit in North Bend.

North Bend honors

Fire Lt. John Lucero for 25 years of service

FROM THE CITY OF NORTH BEND

North Bend Fire & Rescue Lt. John Lucero was honored Tuesday night for 25 years of service to the city and its residents during a recognition ceremony at the North Bend City Council meeting. Fire Chief Jim Brown introduced Lucero and praised his longtime leadership and reliability, recalling a recent rope rescue standby call where Lucero arrived with his young granddaughter, Avery. As firefighters prepared for the incident, Brown said Avery summed up what every fire family understands when duty calls.

“She kept saying, ‘Papa’s gotta go,’ and that’s something all of our families know as firefighters,” Brown said. “For 25 years, when something happens, he says, ‘gotta go,’ and everybody understands. We appreciate the dedication he has shown to the city. That’s one of the ways he’s a great leader.” Brown presented a plaque to Lucero recognizing “25 years of excellence,” noting that Lucero’s commitment and courage have made “a lasting difference in the lives of his fellow firefighters and the citizens he serves,” and that his service reflects the dedication and excellence that

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define the North Bend Fire Department. Lucero, speaking to the council, his colleagues and family members, said the people around him have made his career meaningful. “It’s been a wonderful career, and what makes it wonderful is, first of all, this family, which is everything to me, and then this family,” Lucero said, gesturing to both his relatives and fellow firefighters. “I’m super blessed. I’ve got the best wife in the world who supports me in everything, and you guys have just been wonderful.” Lucero said one of his favorite parts of

the job has been mentoring newer firefighters and watching them advance. “My most favorite thing in the fire service is to work with the younger guys and gals and then watch them move on and start their own careers,” he said. “It is wonderful to see. I’m just very blessed to have friends and family that have supported me through everything. So thank you all — and there’s more to come.” The council and audience responded with applause in appreciation of Lucero’s 25 years of service to North Bend Fire & Rescue and the community it serves.

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