Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Chamber Plans Holiday Events

With the holidays here, the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce is in full swing.

On Saturday, Dec. 4, Mary Godwin, executive director of the Chamber, will take a crew to Little Rock to decorate Nevada County's tree.

It will be one of 75 trees lining the walk to the capital as part of a project by Secretary of State Sharon Priest. This event began a few years ago, with all counties invited to come to Little Rock and decorate their tree however they wanted.

Godwin and company, when this first came about, contacted area businesses and industries to get ornaments representing them to put on the tree.

She said the Chamber is staying with the business and industry theme again this year and invites any business or industry not currently involved to participate.

To do so, company representatives need to contact the Chamber at 887-2101.

Currently, however, the Chamber is looking for entries for the parade of home decorating contest.

Once again there will be two contests, one for city residents and one for those living in the county.

To enter an entry form must be filled out and returned to the Chamber by Friday, Dec. 3.

Judging will be done Monday, Dec. 6, with the winners announced Thursday, Dec. 9, at Christmas on the Square.

Those entering should leave their displays lighted from 5:30 until 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 6 for the judges.

The entries will be judged on the basis of originality, creativity and presentation.

The winners will have a sign in their yard for the remainder of December, proclaiming their efforts.

There is no entry fee for the contest.

The category criteria are: best lighted display, with lights being the main attraction; best unlighted display, based on decorations as the focal point; and best theme, with decorations and lights being tied together on one theme.

At the same time, the Chamber is sponsoring the Best Decorated Window Contest for local businesses.

The deadline for entering is Dec. 3, with the judging criteria being based on originality, creativity, merchandising and overall beauty.

The winner will earn bragging rights for a year, along with the traveling trophy with the business name engraved on it.

This award will also be presented at Christmas on the Square.

The windows will be judged Dec. 6.

Next up is the Third Annual Christmas Parade, followed by Christmas on the Square.

The parade will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, following the same route it has had the past two years. It will start at Bud's Auto and NAPA, ending at the Nevada County Courthouse.

This year, in an effort to speed things up a bit, the entries in all divisions will be judged before the actual parade, instead of during it as it was last year.

Entries need to arrive at the starting point by 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 9 for judging. The floats will be lined up at 5 o'clock with the parade kicking off at 6 p.m.

Those not arriving in time for judging will not be judged, Godwin said.

In addition, the only float a Santa Claus will be allowed on is the Chamber's entry. Should any other float have a Santa, Godwin said, it will be disqualified from the competition.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top five finishers in the float category. First place will win $125, with second place taking home $100. The prize money drops in $25 increments to $25 for fifth place.

This year, Godwin said, a mini-float division, with the entries being eight feet long or less, has been added. The winner in this category will get $25.

Other divisions in the parade include best decorated vehicle, all terrain vehicle, golf cart, bicycle and animal costume.

The winner in each of these groups will get $10.

Then it's on to Christmas on the Square, where there will be plenty of holiday-oriented entertainment along with old St. Nick himself.

Children of all ages can visit with everyone's favorite elf and let him know what they want for Christmas.

For $2 each, they can have their picture taken with Santa as well.

On Saturday, Dec. 11, a Breakfast with Santa will be held for children through the fifth grade at the First Baptist Church gym from 8-10 a.m.

The breakfast will consist of milk, orange juice, sausage, biscuit and pastries.

Once fed, the children can participate in 10 different activities. These include: face painting, making ornaments, a living room scene with Mr. and Mrs. Claus where children can be photographed with them for $2, a booth will be available to make Christmas cards, there will be cookie decorating, a place to write letters to Santa, make Christmas necklaces, a coloring contest and a music group performing carols.

The coloring contest, Godwin said, will have four age divisions.

Children can also register for door prizes, with drawings for T-shirts held throughout the event.

With the exception of photos with Santa, the breakfast is free.

But, to get in, the youngsters need to bring a canned good item. The goods collected will be donated to a needy family in the area.

Finally, the Irma Sue Purtle and the Southwest Arkansas Development Council will host December's only community coffee of the month on Dec. 2.

This will be the annual coffee at the Senior Adult Center from 9-11 a.m.