By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The leftover turkey and pie are in the fridge, the naps are complete. With another Thanksgiving in the books, the city of Great Bend again turns its eyes toward Christmas with a day full of fun on Saturday. Community Coordinator Christina Hayes said that begins with a noon deadline for the Explore Great Bend contest.
"Of course, it's the last day to participate in the $1,000 to Explore Great Bend," she said. "You can go register to win in each of the participating stores. That's also on Black Friday. As we encourage you to shop local first, we ask that go register to win but also see what our wonderful stores have to offer."
The contest began Nov. 4 with the chance to register on each Saturday and Black Friday only. Three winners will be selected for prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250, and winners must be present after the parade Saturday evening to win.
Dilly & Doc Creative Studio will hold its pop-up market at 1119 Main Street and the neighboring bingo building from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. There are at least 250 boxes for the famous Great Bend Cookie Contest. Due to demand, the price has increased from $5 to $10. Participants can register for a prize to be given away by each participating business. Boxes and bracelets can be purchased at Rosewood Furniture Gallery, 16th and Main in downtown Great Bend. That contest runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Home for the Holidays Lighted Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and will travel down Main Street to Jack Kilby Square. Mayor Cody Schmidt and Santa will light the Christmas tree at 6:15, and Santa will be available at his house beginning at 6:30 p.m. There will be lots of free food and refreshments and more ways to win.
"As the cookie contest winners are being announced, we will have a fun little game where we go randomly up to people and we ask them what the next line of a Christmas carol is," Hayes said. "We've done this before randomly at a festival, and people do not know the words!"
Name the next line and win a $10 chamber gift certificate. Horse-drawn carriage and wagon rides by Rosewood Services will also be available after the parade, as will free train rides with the city's very own Jon the Elf driving. Tickets for Rosewood's Golden Ticket Holiday Drawing may be picked up at the Trail of Lights in Brit Spaugh Park and at the Santas Around the World display at Lakin and Main.