Plans underway for holiday activities
By Sandy Morris
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Albany Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said this week that Albany Bucks tickets, parade float entries, and memorial ornament sales all begin on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Albany Bucks
Shoppers can start earning tickets for Albany Bucks by shopping at any downtown or locally owned merchant. Every $10 spent in a local, non-chain business earns the shopper one ticket.
Tickets also can be purchased at the Chamber for $5 each.
Tickets can be dropped into entry boxes until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov.28. The first drawing for Albany Bucks will be held that day at 3:30 p.m.
Additional drawings will be at 4:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. for different amounts of Albany Bucks. Albany Bucks can be spent at any local participating merchant, including Prairie Star.
Christmas Parade
In addition to the Albany Bucks drawing on Nov. 28, the annual lighted Christmas parade will be held that evening. Participants can call or come by the Chamber office to register their floats.
Jones reminds everyone that the parade will start around 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. so floats will need to be well lit.
“If you are wanting to have family members ride on your float, there will need to be enough light so that everyone can be seen,” said Jones. “We are focused on being well-lighted and pretty.”
Memorial Ornaments
The annual memorial ornaments also go on sale on Nov. 10 at a cost of $5 each. The name of the person to be memorialized will be written on the ornament and it will be hung on the Christmas tree.
This year, the memorial Christmas tree will be placed on the Courthouse Square in the gazebo.
Ornaments may be removed and taken home after Christmas.
Movie and Music
There will be a Christmas movie shown at the Aztec Theater on the day of the parade from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for children age four and up.
“Parents can use the time during the movie to do some Christmas shopping alone without the kids,” said Jones.
Aztec of Albany committee members will provide free popcorn and water during the movie.
“We greatly appreciate the contribution of the Aztec committee to the event and thank them for their support,” Jones added.
As an added bonus, local fiddlers will play in the Aztec Theater, with the performance time to be announced later.
Decorating Contest
This year, local residents will have the opportunity to sign up for a Holiday House Decorating Contest.
Participants can start entering homes at the Chamber office Nov. 10.
The categories are “Beautiful” or “Creative,” and winners will be announced on the Chamber Facebook page Dec. 15.
