STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Santa greeted children from the balcony of the Sun Valley Inn to mitigate the risk of COVID as he prepares for his around-the-world journey on Christmas Eve. And Mother Nature gifted the community with an Instant Winter as the Christmas holiday season got underway at Sun Valley this past season.
Jana Foushee and Marie Carr weren’t sure how their grandson and son Wade Carr would handle his first orchestra performance when they plopped down in the front row at the Wood River Orchestra’s holiday concert.
But the tiny guy decided he wanted to become a violin player after watching Stephen McDougall Graham, the Wood River Orchestra’s new principal violinist, sway with emotion as he ran his bow across the strings.
And, then, there was the big snow ball fight instigated by Conductor Brad Hershey, during which the young’un managed to pelt an orchestra member fair and square with a white felt ball.
“I don’t know if he thinks that’s part of every concert now. We’ll find out,” said Foushee.
Andrew Schiers, who plays trumpet and trombone for the orchestra, said that he was delighted to perform in public again—something the orchestra hasn’t done since the pandemic hit.
“Nothing beats the human element--meeting together and collaborating to create something that others can enjoy,” he said. “That's one of the worst ways the pandemic has hit; people are separated from each other and lacking ways to share in or partake of being a part of something. So, it is great to be able to meet and be doing something again and providing an outlet for others.”
Christmas in Sun Valley got off to a running start last weekend with a tree lighting amidst falling snow.
And it will continue this week as the resort stages its Classic Christmas concert at 7 tonight and Saturday in the Sun Valley Opera House. Tickets are $25, available at the Guest Center in Sun Valley Village or online at https://www.sunvalley.com
There will be live ice carving demonstrations on Saturday in Sun Valley Village.
And Shop for a Cause Day will take place on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 18 and 19, at Brass Ranch, Pete Lane’s Signatures and the Lodge Gift Shop in Sun Valley Village. A percentage of all purchases on those days will support the Environmental Resource Center (ERC), Girls on the Run-Wood River Valley and 43North, which is working to provide safe housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Over in Ketchum, J.McLaughlin will welcome miniature horses Zeus and Moose from Swiftsure therapeutic ranch to its store from noon to 4 p.m. today at 520 E. 4th St. in Ketchum. Fifteen percent of sales during that time will benefit the therapeutic riding program.