Fresher from the
forest
Make tree-cutting a
family outing
 Picking
out a holiday tree is a
tradition that many families
look forward to. This year, why
not make the memory extra
special by coming to
Plumas County for your tree?
Not only are the evergreens
abundant, but the small towns
are full of holiday flavor. You
can stay at a
cozy cabin for a night, and
enjoy a real country breakfast
at either a
B&B or a homey
cafe. Instead of cooking, plan
to have your
holiday dinner here!
If you're planning to head to
Plumas County for a tree, be
sure to first check out the
Tree Cutting information on
our website.Tree cutting permits
are $10 a piece and you can buy
two permits per address.
 Make
sure to bring your boots, a
jacket, and a saw. Be prepared
for cold
weather -and snow in the
higher elevations. Also,
be careful on slick roads, drive
slow and watch for deer.
There are
several places you can buy
your permits: here at the Plumas
County Visitors Bureau just west
of Quincy, ranger districts, and
service stations and local shops
throughout the county.
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Old-fashioned holiday fun
Main Streets light up with
parades
 Communities
in Plumas County
celebrate the holidays in old
fashioned style. Among many festive
events are rural light parades --
offered in four different towns!
From logging trucks and fire trucks
to heavy equipment, Smokey the Bear
and Santa, be prepared to be dazzled
by the brightly lit vehicles and
floats as they parade down Main
Streets in
Chester,
Taylorsville ,
Quincy and
Portola. Chester starts off the
season with a tree lighting,
merchants open house and light
parade on Friday, Nov. 27 at 5
pm. The village of Taylorsville will
have its light parade on Saturday,
Nov. 28 at dusk.
Historic downtown Quincy
plans to "sparkle" with
its light parade and
door-to-door merchant
open house on Friday,
Dec. 4 and that same
night downtown Portola
will get in the holiday
spirit with its light
parade and
tree-lighting. After the
parades and at holiday
gatherings elsewhere,
you're guaranteed to
find live entertainment,
most likely a warm cup
of cider and a holiday
gift or two.
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Season for soaring
eagles
Bird
counts a learning
adventure
 Looking
for something outdoorsy and
totally different to do for this
holiday season? Join in on one
of three
Christmas Bird Counts being
held by the
Plumas Audubon Society. This
American holiday tradition began
in 1900 as an alternative to the
early tradition of hunting birds
on Christmas Day. The practice
continues today with birders
across the nation.
"It's the longest standing
amateur science project going
on," said Plumas Audubon member
Linda Blum of Quincy. "By
repeating the count at the same
time of year, for decades now,
we get a long-term
quasi-scientific census and
learn how bird populations
change over time."
 Not
to mention, it's a fun social
adventure where amateurs can
learn a lot from veteran
birders, and see up to 70
species and thousands of birds.
Teams are divided up into
15-mile diameter count circles,
and take turns spotting,
identifying and tallying. The
local counts will be held
Monday, Dec. 14 in Sierra
Valley, Wednesday Dec. 16 in
Chester-Lake Almanor and
Saturday, Dec. 19 in the
American Valley (Quincy). For
meeting times and places contact
David at (530) 283-0455 or email
the various organizers at the
Plumas Audubon Society.
If you're just up for birding on
your own, expect to see lots of
waterfowl at Lake Almanor and
raptors in the Sierra Valley,
east of Portola. Bald eagles are
also prevalent along with a
variety of forest songbirds that
winter here.
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It's not ballet or
opera
Just
rural chorus, drama
at its best
The legendary
Chester Community
Chorus -- now in
its 20th year --
will perform a free
multi-cultural
Christmas Concert,
on Friday and
Saturday, Dec. 4-5
at 7 pm and Sunday,
Dec. 5 at 3 pm at
the Chester
Methodist Church.
Accompanied by Lake
Almanor Handbells
and other musicians,
this incredible
group of 40 local
residents will
perform Estonian,
Latin, Filipino, and
English holiday
music.
"Twas a Couple of Nights
Before Christmas" is a
quirky ,family friendly
play by local
playwright, Anne Gaudet,
opening at the Town Hall
Theatre in Quincy on
Saturday, Dec. 12, at
7:30 pm. An additional
showing is Sunday, Dec.
13, directly after the
Annual Courthouse Sing,
at 2 pm. This well-loved
event is open to anyone
who enjoys belting out
those holiday carols!
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Marley's Ghost
headlines at Quincy's
The
recreated three-car California Zephyr will
journey from Oakland to Portola and back,
stopping at Keddie to celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the driving of the last spike
that opened the last transcontinental
railroad. A redriving ceremony will be held
the morning of Nov. 1 on the return trip to
Oakland. A trip to Portola's
