Local merchants encourage you to shop locally this weekend as the community celebrates “Christmas in Clarendon” and the eighth annual lighting of the Donley County Courthouse.
The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce encourages everyone to shop local businesses, and the Chamber and its partners have lined up several activities to make shopping at home fun, including a downtown Christmas Craft Fair, a Christmas Bingo promotion, and four nights of Late Night Shopping.
As part of Small Business Saturday this weekend, a Christmas Craft Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with vendors set up at the CEDC restaurant building at Kearney and US 287, the future home of Loaded Nutrition in the old book store, and the Masonic Lodge Hall. If needed, vendors may also be located in the Arena of Life Cowboy Church. Everyone is encouraged to come downtown and check out what the vendors have available there. Shonda’s Snack Shack will be serving in the Masonic Lodge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and a food truck is also planned for Saturday.
A coloring contest and entertainment will be held at the Mulkey Theatre from noon to 5 p.m. The official coloring pages and contest details are available online at
ClarendonTX.com/ChamberEvents. Check out the same page for details on the Chamber’s Christmas Bingo contest. Bingo cards are available at participating merchants as well as online. The bingo winner will be drawn, and the coloring contest winners will be announced at 7 p.m. at the CEDC building.
The fun continues Saturday evening at the Donley County Courthouse where Santa Claus will be on hand to visit with the kids starting at 5 p.m. before the official Courthouse Lighting at 6 p.m. The Lions Club will be serving hot chocolate, and musical entertainment will be provided by the Clarendon Elementary Ensemble, Gary Cockerham, and Jesse Lincycomb. Activities will also be available on Third Street between Sully and Kearney following the courthouse lighting.
The Christmas celebration continues Sunday evening with a special showing of The Polar Express at the Mulkey Theatre. Admission will be a donation to the Donley County Community Fund, and attendees are encouraged to get into the spirit of the movie by wearing their pajamas to the show, which starts at 6 p.m.
The shopping fun continues with Late Night Shopping dates set up for December 2, 9, 16, and 23. Check online at ClarendonTX.com/ChamberEvents for a list of merchants who are staying open late for your holiday shopping convenience.
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 26 and 27. Details on local sales are printed in the Holiday Gift Guide included in this week’s Clarendon Enterprise and also available at ClarendonLive.com.
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 experts, every $100 spent in locally-owned stores returns $68 to the town 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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