Clarendon merchants are ready to roll out the welcome mats as the community gets into the holiday mood with Small Business Saturday sales and the fifth annual lighting of the Courthouse.
The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce encourages everyone to shop local businesses, and the Chamber’s Christmas committee has lined up several activities to make shopping at home fun, including a downtown Christmas Craft Fair, three nights of Late Night Shopping, spinning the wheel for prizes, and taking selfies with elfies.
As part of Small Business Saturday this weekend, a Christmas Craft Fair will be held from noon to 8 p.m. at the Arena of Life Cowboy Church. Everyone is encouraged to come downtown and check out what the vendors have available there. Starting at 4 p.m., the VFW Auxiliary will be holding their annual soup and chili supper, also at the Cowboy Church. Serving will continue through the Courthouse Lighting until the food runs out.
Activities on the courthouse lawn get underway at 5 p.m. with Santa Claus and caroling featuring local children’s groups. The lighting will be at 6 p.m. with the Spinning of the Wheel to come afterwards at Saye’s / Flying ‘A’ Tack on Kearney.
Hundreds of dollars’ worth of prizes including $400 in Clarendon Cash are on the Wheel this season. Participating merchants began on Monday giving tickets for a chance to spin the Wheel with purchases of $25 or more. On Small Business Saturday, the participating merchants will give double tickets.
Three lucky spinners will be drawn during each Late Night Shopping on Saturday, November 24, and on two Thursday’s December 6 and 20. On the final Late Night Shopping on December 20, a fourth ticket will be drawn to win all the remaining prizes on the wheel.
Merchants giving out Wheel tickets include Buckin’ Bean, Cornell’s Country Store, Floyd’s Automotive, Every Nook & Cranny, Turquois & Rust, Henson’s, Speed’s Tire Unlimited, Clarendon Outpost, Country Bloomers, Mike’s Pharmacy, JD SteakOut, Signs Plus, and Saye’s / Flying ‘A’ Tack,
Nine local merchants are also participating in the Selfie with an Elfie promotion. Elves have been hidden at Buckin’ Bean, Floyd’s Automotive, Every Nook & Cranny, Turquois & Rust, Henson’s, Clarendon Outpost, Country Bloomers, Mike’s Pharmacy, and Saye’s / Flying ‘A’ Tack. Customers who find the Elf can take their selfie with it and then post it to facebook.com/ClarendonChamber with the hashtag #ClarendonElf to have a chance to win a photo session by Savannah Askew worth $200. The Selfie with the Elfie winner will be named December 20 during Late Night Shopping.
Local merchants are ready to help you find something for everyone on your Christmas list with their Black Friday and Small Business Saturday specials on November 23 and 24. Details on local sales are printed in the Holiday Gift Guide included in this week’s Clarendon Enterprise and also available by clicking here.
Small Business Saturday began in 2010 when it was founded by American Express to help small businesses get more exposure during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year.
According to small business advocates, every $100 spent in locally-owned stores returns $68 to the local community through taxes, payrolls, and other expenditures. That same money spent in another town or online returns nothing to your local community.
Shop at home this holiday season and remember the important role your local merchants play in keeping your community strong.
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