Chamber preparing for annual Christmas Open House

By Becky Uehling

Grant Tribune-Sentinel

The Perkins County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Open House is set for Thursday, Nov. 17 with the theme “O’ Christmas Tree.” The evening is hosted by the chamber to encourage the community to patronize the small businesses in Grant and Perkins County for their holiday shopping needs.

Santa will make his appearance on a fire truck at 5:30 p.m. to kick-off the evening with the lighting of the community Christmas tree at Soulful Salvage’s lot. Children from Perkins County Elementary School are making ornaments to put on the trees, but everyone is invited to participate with their own ornament during the month, according to Chamber President Michelle Ross.

The lot by Soulful Salvage will also be decorated for people to take fun and festive holiday themed photos during the month. Santa will stay at the lot in an enclosed area to visit with anyone who wants to talk with him. 

Santa’s reindeer will be on the lot this year where kids young and old can come and see them. Viaero is sponsoring the reindeer.  

For those who are hungry during the evening, the Perkins County Senior Center will once again hold its free-will donation baked potato bar from 5-7:30 p.m. To-go orders will be available. For more information call the center at (308) 352-4236. Public transportation will be offered by the Perkins County Senior Center for a small fee by calling the same number. 

Vendors will be set up during the evening inside the senior center as well as all three banks, Meadowlark Art Gallery, Thelander Interiors, Soulful Salvage, Country Supply, Brick and Mortar and Blume Flower Shop. Vendors interested in displaying their goods during the evening should contact Ross at 308-352-4131 or email her at michelle.ross@pinnbank.com.

Also beginning that night will be the annual chamber bucks drawings. Other Chamber Bucks drawings will be Dec. 3, 10, and the grand prize being drawn on Dec. 17. With every purchase made at a chamber business, shoppers will gain an entry in the chamber bucks drawings, which will be held at Hatch’s Super Foods on each of the first three Saturdays of December.

During the first two Saturdays, Dec. 3 and 10, there will be three drawings for $50 Chamber Bucks prizes, as well as one grand prize winner who will receive $250 Chamber Bucks.

At the final drawing on Dec. 17, there will be four $50 prize winners and one $500 grand prize winner. If the winner is present at any of drawings, the prize money will double.

All purchases at chamber businesses made between the open house and Friday, Dec. 17 will allow the shopper an entry, and entries will remain in the pot through the final drawing on Dec. 17, giving people multiple chances to win even if their name isn’t called during the first or second drawings.

For more information on the evening contact Ross at 308-352-4131or email at michelle.ross@pinnbank.com.