Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Chamber Christmas Plans Are Finalized

Time is running out for those planning to enter floats or vehicles in the 1998 Prescott- Nevada County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade.

More floats are expected for this year's parade than ever before.

According to Mary Godwin, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, plans for the parade and Christmas on the Square are complete.

The Christmas Parade route will run opposite the way the Nevada County Fair parade went. Floats are asked to arrive at Bud's and NAPA auto parts stores at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8, to be lined up for the 5:30 p.m. start.

The theme for this year's parade is "Through the Streets of a Winter Wonderland." There is no fee to enter a float, but those planning to enter should contact Godwin at the Chamber and register by Friday, Nov. 20.

Because of the increased interest in the parade, she said, prize money will be paid to the top five finishers, instead of the top three as originally planned. The winner will get $125, with second place receiving $100. Third place nets $75, while fourth will earn $50 and the final finisher takes home $25.

A division for best decorated car or truck has also been included this year, with the winner getting $25.

Godwin said the best decorated animal costume, where the animal wears the costume, will earn the winner a cool $10. This will also be the prize money for the best decorated bicycle and best decorated all-terrain vehicle or golf cart.

Judges for the parade, she said, will be from out of town.

The parade route will end at the Nevada County Courthouse, where Christmas on the Square will take place.

Godwin said there will be an assortment of entertainment for those coming to Christmas on the Square. This will include children from the Day Service Center, the Presbyterian Pre- school and Prescott head start program. Other groups and individuals are expected to perform as well.

While there will be plenty of entertainment outside the courthouse, the interior won't be devoid of fun either. Godwin said children can get Christmas decorations painted on their faces and have their pictures taken with Santa Claus.

Santa will be in the parade as well, and will be easy to spot. Everyone's favorite jolly old elf will be perched on the Chamber's float and the end of the line.

Upon arriving at the courthouse, Saint Nick will go inside and talk with the boys and girls about what they want for Christmas this year.

Godwin said there will also be a Christmas costume contest for the youngsters. This contest will have two divisions, for children age 2-4 and from 5-7. Boys and girls will compete against one another. The children must be in Christmas costume and not just dressed up for the holiday. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers.

Along with all the entertainment, there will be plenty of goodies to eat and drink. Godwin said the Future Homemakers of America Club will have a concession stand offering cookies, hot chocolate and cider, while Morris Baptist Church's stand will have baked goods for sale. Maxine's Diner will also have a concession stand at the event.

Other groups are also expected to have concession stands at the event.

Christmas on the Square, though,

is more than entertainment, goodies and visiting with Kris Kringle. It is when the Chamber announces the winners of the Best Decorated Windows for area businesses, along with the winners of the best decorated homes in the city and county and the winners of the parade contests.

The Best Decorated Window contest is open to any downtown business in Prescott, Godwin said. There is no entry fee, but those planning to enter should contact the Chamber by Dec. 2. The winner will get the Traveling Trophy and bragging rights for a year.

Judging, Godwin said, will be based on originality, creativity, merchandising and overall beauty.

The floats, she said, will be judged on theme, creativity and overall appearance.

Deadline for entering the parade of homes contest is Dec. 4, Godwin said, with judging scheduled for Dec 7. Judging of the homes will begin at 5 p.m., with homeowners asked to leave their displays lighted until 10 o'clock for the judges.

Again, there is no entry fee for this contest.

There will be three divisions for the Parade of Homes best lighted, where the theme will be primarily lights; best unlighted and best theme. The winner will have a sign placed in their yard for the month of December along with receiving a certificate proclaiming their victory.

If this isn't enough, the Chamber is also preparing to decorate the Nevada County Christmas tree at the state capital. For the second year the Secretary of State's Office will provide a tree and lights for each of the state's 75 counties. It will be up to the individual counties to provide the rest of the decorations.

Godwin said a Capital Christmas Tree Committee has been working to gather ornaments to show what Prescott and Nevada County have to offer.

The committee consists of Godwin, Von Gordon, Janice Hill, Erma Sue Purtle, Chad and Robin Cornelius, Sandra Hildebrand, Sydney DuCharme, Katherine Koger and Billie McCain.

The committee will travel to Little Rock and decorate the tree, showcasing the different businesses and industries in the area.

This year, Godwin said, Prescott is included in a brochure from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism for its holiday trail of lights. This brochure tells the best places in the state to go and see holiday decorations. Copies of it are available at the Chamber.

Godwin reminds all who plan to have floats in this year's parade there can be no candy thrown from them. This, she said, is to insure the safety of those children watching, as it will be dark when the parade goes through downtown Prescott.

Christmas on the Square will conclude with a new event. Godwin said there will be a snowball avalanche with the "snowballs", actually ping pong balls, to be dropped from a bucket truck onto the courthouse square.

Many of these snowballs will have discounts from downtown merchants, so those finding them will get extra savings for their holiday shopping.

There will be three special snowballs mixed into the lot. One of these will be a $100 gift certificate from participating merchants, with the others being $75 and $50.

These must be used at any of the local participating merchants by the close of business on Dec. 24.

Christmas Open House for area merchants will be held from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29.

Refreshments will be provided for the adults, while the youngsters will get candy and the chance to visit with Santa.