For  the 78th year, unions affiliated with the Marion-Polk-Yamhill Counties Labor Chapter will host a free holiday party for children and their parents and grandparents (some of whom attended when they were kids). The party is held the first weekend in December at the historic Elsinore Theatre in downtown Salem.

This Dec. 1, children will sing holiday songs with the Norman Sylvester Band, watch a movie, meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, then head out with a goodie bag.

Sylvester is a member of Musicians Local 99, and Santa is played by Jack Rusen of Albany Steelworkers Local 6163 (Mrs. Claus is his wife). The emcee is Jeff Anderson, secretary-treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555. Anderson has played the part of “Elfie” for nearly 30 years. The event is funded by local unions and unionized businesses in the tri-county area.