All this week, the annual Festival of Trees contest is going on in Hoquiam. Visitors can pick up a voter card at any of the 20 participating businesses and vote for the best-decorated trees in six categories: most Christmas spirit, most relevant to the business, most beautiful, funniest, most creative, and best hometown Hoquiam theme.

Completed cards must be dropped off at the Jitter House Cafe, 617 Simpson Ave. The first 150 people to turn in their voter cards will get a free latte or cocoa, and all cards will be entered in a drawing for a gift basket.

The other participating businesses are ResCom Flooring, McHugh’s Furniture, Sadistik Sykles, the Polson Museum, Rose’s Taqueria, Brunch 101, Java Shack, the Place to Be, 7th Street Theatre, Auction on 8th, Tropical Tanning, Durney Insurance, YMCA, Simpson Avenue Bar & Grill. Timberland Bank, Emerson Manor, 8th Street Ale House, Hoquiam Physical Therapy and Channel Point Village.

Voting continues through Saturday.

On that morning, downtown Hoquiam’s official holiday festivities will kick off at 11 a.m. as Santa arrives by fire truck at Central Elementary School. He’ll stay there for a few hours to take pictures with kids, give out goodie bags, and preside over drawings for bicycles and toys. He’ll head over to the 7th Street Theatre lobby for more pictures between 4 and 6 p.m.

Christmas carolers will perform in front of the theater ahead of the 7:30 p.m. showing of the modern Christmas classic “Elf,” starring Will Ferrell and James Caan. Movie tickets are $6 for adults and free for children 12 and younger who are accompanied by an adult.

Each movie-goer will receive a free raffle ticket for Elf-themed door prizes including a Hallmark tree ornament, a snow globe and a basket full of Buddy’s favorite foods.

Patrons also will vote on the best elf costume among them, with the winner taking home a full-size Buddy the Elf cardboard stand-up.