Good morning, Wenatchee.

East Wenatchee City Hall will host its annual Wings 'N Wishes Tree Lighting ceremony on Thursday, Dec.4 from 6 to 8 p.m., where Santa will arrive on a fire truck with a police escort at 6:15 p.m. + Families can enjoy food vendors, the Sterling Junior High School Choir caroling, and activities like writing letters to Santa and getting Elf mugshots taken at community booths.

The Wenatchee Convention Center completed a 19,000-square-foot expansion and now offers more than 60,000 square feet of meeting and event space, enhancing accessibility and flow for larger gatherings.

Mark Harle is a lifelong Wenatchee veteran who now helps other veterans—drawing on his deep local roots to offer guidance and support.

His work provides essential assistance to those who have served.

Red Robin has announced it will close 70 locations in the next year—its underperforming restaurants, which lost $6 million in earnings in 2024, will shut when leases end.

The Wenatchee store at 1306 North Miller Street, operating for over 20 years, remains uncertain as the chain finalizes its closures.

Travelers flying this holiday season from Washington must leave their legal medical marijuana behind because federal law bans its transport on planes — officials remind passengers at Sea-Tac and other local airports.

Chelan County awarded nearly $222K in lodging tax grants to 35 tourism groups to boost local events and attractions—LTAC reviewed 46 applications totaling almost $780K in requests, with awards including Wenatchee Valley Velo’s 2026 Tour de Bloom, Leavenworth Summer Theater, Plain Valley Ski Trails, and the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center.

The Wenatchee Rotary Club will host Washington State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti at noon Thursday, Nov.

13 at the Pybus Public Market LocalTel Event Center (the free event is open to the public).

Margaret Viebrock of WSU Extension in Chelan and Douglas County advises families to start defrosting their turkey early using the rule of five pounds per 24 hours in a refrigerator—if time is short, she recommends a cold water bath with water changed every 30 minutes—and to use a meat thermometer, keep the refrigerator at 40 degrees or below, and store leftovers in shallow food-grade containers to prevent bacteria growth. This guidance will help ensure a safe Thanksgiving meal.

Apple Pie Smackdown

10 a.m. – 8 p.m. — Watercore Cider — $5 entry — Taste delicious apple pies and help crown the valley's best apple pie at this fun community event.

Hands-On Bike Maintenance Workshop Series

6:30-8:30 p.m. — Ridge Cyclesport — Registration required — Master bike maintenance skills in this hands-on 3-part workshop series designed for all bike enthusiasts.

Give NCW Turkey Trot

9-11 a.m. — Pybus Public Market — Registration fees apply — Kick off the holiday season with timed 5K and 10K races plus a free kids run amidst the scenic Apple Capital Loop.