Decades-long holiday traditions will continue this weekend as the Powell community celebrates Country Christmas.

“The Country Christmas events allow families, friends and neighbors to slow down during this busy season to make time to make memories,” said Rebekah Burns, coordinator of the Powell Visitor Center.

The holiday weekend kicks off Friday with a gift show, from noon to 7 p.m. at The Commons in downtown Powell. The annual show “is a great place to get stocking stuffers and gifts for your family or yourself,” Burns said.

“You’ll often see the same families walk through the gift show and then enjoy a meal at a local restaurant or get a bowl of chili from the Chamber Ambassadors, who have perfected their recipe over years of Country Christmas gift shows,” she said.

For the past several years, the show has also served as a fundraiser for Mountain Spirit Habitat for Humanity. On Saturday, the gift show continues at The Commons from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

As evening falls on Saturday, downtown Powell will be aglow, as the lighted parade begins at 5:30 p.m.

“We live in idyllic Powell, Wyoming, for a reason — the quality of life is great,” Burns said. “It just warms our hearts to see all the shops light up, people lining the streets to see the lighted parade, the kiddos straining their neck to catch a glimpse of Santa on the fire truck courtesy of the Powell Fire Department.”

The lighted parade will follow the same route as last year: North on Bent Street, left on Third Street and left on Cheyenne Street, ending at Washington Park.

“The crowds pour off Bent Street; walk to Washington Park to see entertainment and the Christmas tree lighting,” Burns said.

The tree lighting is slated to begin at 6 p.m. Absaroka Mountain Thunder, the elementary schools’ Fifth Grade Chorus and Stomp & Company will perform at the Washington Park bandshell.

Also on Saturday night, the Twilight Tour of Homes takes place from 5-9 p.m. Tour-goers can enjoy a unique trolley ride around Powell, making stops at homes decked out for the holidays. Twilight tour tickets are $35 and also include hors d’ oeuvres and refreshments at Perky J Upholstery, 130 N. Bent Street Unit B.

Sunday’s traditional Tour of Homes takes place from 1-5 p.m., highlighting eight homes around Powell. Tickets cost $12.

“The Tour of Homes and the Twilight Tour of Homes are also fundraisers for Mountain Spirit Habitat for Humanity,” Burns said. “As you tour some of the nicer homes in Powell, you can feel good that you are helping to provide a home for someone who needs one.”

This year’s tour features the Kringle House with “purposely over-the-top Christmas decorations in each room.”

Located at 280 North Bernard St., the 93-year-old home was remodeled by Chris Pelletier and decked out with vintage Christmas decor.

Sunday’s tour includes one of the oldest homes in Powell: the Bever Homestead House, now located at Homesteader Museum.

“It is amazing to see the 1913 residence compared to what we call home today,” Burns said. “I greatly admire Powell’s homesteading families, when peering back in time, standing in the Bever Home.”

The 106-year-old home belonged to Ora E. and Ruby Bever, one of Powell’s early homesteading couples.

Working with a team of horses and a plow, Ora Bever cleared the land for the “little white house,” according to Homesteader Museum.

Now known as the Homestead House, it was donated to the museum in 2002.

“We will decorate the homestead house with age appropriate [decor] to the time period, which is why we are only on the Sunday tour … no lights!” said Brandi Wright, director/curator of Homesteader Museum.

She hopes tour-goers enjoy seeing how simple things were back then, and how people survived in a small home with the basics.

“The simple ways of life with perseverance and determination — before running water and electricity,” Wright said.

In addition to the Kringle House and Bever Homestead House, Sunday’s Tour of Homes also includes the following residents’ homes:

• Fred and Sharon Althoff, 6 Quarter Circle Drive

• Scott and Stefani Hicswa, 1285 Lane 11 1/2

• Nate and Niki Keefer, 1061 Morning Glory Lane

• Gary and Vicki White, 376 Lane 9

• Tiffany Wutzke, 582 South Clark St.

• Ed and Martha Wutzke, 879 Lane 11

For a full schedule of Country Christmas events, visit www.powellchamber.org/powellcountrychristmas/.