Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Chamber has busy December planned

It's time for the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce's Christmas activities.

Mary Godwin, executive director of the Chamber, said the dates have been set for the Parade of Homes, the business window decorating contest, the Christmas parade, Christmas on the Square and Breakfast with Santa.

The fun begins with the Parade of Homes. Godwin said there will again be three categories in two divisions. The divisions are city and county. The categories will be best lighted, best theme and best unlighted displays.

The homes will be judged Friday, Dec. 5. The lighted displays must be on for the judging.

However, prior to the homes being judged, the annual business window decorating contest will be assessed. Godwin said the business windows will be judged at noon, prior to the homes.

Now, any homeowner or business interested in getting involved in the contests need to call the Chamber at 887-2101 no later than 5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4.

The winners in the home division will receive a yard sign to be displayed, while the business window winner gains possession of the traveling plaque for a year.

The winners in these contests will be announced at Christmas on the Square, which has been scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 11, and follows the Christmas parade.

The parade is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and follow its traditional route. This means the floats will line up by B.J.'s Rent to Own across from NAPA, travel to the traffic light at Main and Highway 67, turn right to the next light, then left on Elm, ending up at the Nevada County Courthouse.

Godwin said the judging will be done from first to fifth place in the float division. There will also be judging for mini-floats, best decorated car or truck, best decorated bicycle, best dressed animal and best decorated all-terrain vehicle or golf cart. There will be a new category in the parade this year, as the best marching group will be judged as well.

There were several marching groups in the parade last year, Godwin said, and it was decided these groups should be judged as well.

One thing about the float division. No floats are allowed to have Santa on them, as the jolly old elf will be on the Chamber's float as he prepares to make his first official visit to Prescott.

The deadline for entering the parade is Dec. 9.

When the parade concludes at the courthouse, Christmas on the Square will begin. There will be plenty of entertainment with Christmas carols being sang. Children of all ages can go inside and visit Santa Claus The youngsters can have their photo taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus for $2.

Winners of the Christmas Parade, the Parade of Homes decorating contest and the best decorated business window contest will be announced at Christmas on the Square as well, with all prizes handed out.

The finale of Christmas on the Square will again be the snowball avalanche. This event has ping pong balls fired out over the crowd. Many of the balls are marked with discounts from local merchants. They must be redeemed, though, by Dec. 31.

From there, it's Breakfast with Santa time. This event will be held from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, in the Potlatch Building at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.

There have been some changes to this year's Breakfast with Santa. Some of the events done in the past won't be done this year. Instead, Godwin said, children can participate in building a gingerbread house to take home with them.

They can also have their picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus, who will be on hand once again.

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

Other activities at Breakfast with Santa include: making candy cane ornaments for the tree at home, face painting, making magic reindeer food, making tootsie roll ornaments, writing letters to Santa, making Christmas cards, making Christmas bells for the tree at home, making gift tags, and a coloring contest.

All prizes, she said, will be awarded at 11.

However, she said, making gingerbread houses will take some time. These houses can be taken home once they're built. Parents will need to help their children at this event.

Some of the games include a snowman beanbag toss and Christmas Bingo.

Those who plan on trying to do all of the activities, Godwin said, need to be at the Potlatch Building no later than 9 a.m., as it will take a while to do everything.

There is an entry fee for Breakfast with Santa. Those coming need to bring a canned good, which will be donated to a needy family for the holidays.

Breakfast with Santa, Godwin said, is for children ages 3-10, and will take the entire two hours to do everything being offered. "People need to come early."