FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2025
Highlights Include Student-crafted Ornaments, Giving Trees, Movie Sweepstakes and Letters Bound for the North Pole
PENDLETON, Ore. (December 2, 2025) — Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Eastern Oregon’s premier family and entertainment destination, has kicked off the holiday season, bringing extra cheer to local youth and students. This year’s holiday season continues the tradition of holiday spirit and engagement, bringing the families and students together through shared experiences.
The resort’s Family FunPlex lobby will again feature three large Christmas trees adorned with ornaments crafted by elementary students from local schools, including the Pendleton School District, Cay-Uma-Wa Head Start, and Átaw Miyánašma Learning Center. Classrooms are invited to participate at their teachers’ discretion, including decisions on themes and materials, with creativity encouraged throughout the project.
Overview of Holiday Activities on Wildhorse Resort & Casino Property:
- Trees & Ornaments: Decorations, including the trees and student-crafted ornaments, will be installed as December begins.
- Movie Sweepstakes: All students crafting ornaments can enter to win two movie passes, including concessions. The teacher of the winning student will also receive passes. One winning duo (a student and a teacher) will be selected from each participating school.
- Letters to the North Pole: Children from throughout the region are invited to write letters as part of USPS Operation Santa®, an annual initiative that accepts letters addressed to Santa Claus and attempts to pair them with adopters who respond. Letters must be submitted at Wildhorse Resort & Casino’s Family FunPlex lobby by the end of the day, December 5, 2025, to meet postal service deadlines. For more information, visit: uspsoperationsanta.com.
Additionally, Downtown Pendleton’s historic Hamley Western Store & Saddle Shop, operated by Wildhorse Resort & Casino, is encouraging the community to support more than 500 local children in need this holiday season through the annual Giving Tree program. Community members can participate by visiting the Hamley store, selecting a tag indicating a specific child’s wishes from the tree, and returning the unwrapped gift by December 11. Participants will receive 10 percent off their next Hamley purchase and will be automatically entered into a drawing for one of twelve gift certificates, valid at a variety of Wildhorse-operated venues, stores, and restaurants.
This program is done in coordination with Elkhorn Media Group. For more information, visit this link: hamley.com/pages/hamley-giving-tree.
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