Mark Your Calendars: Holiday Magic Is Coming
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Chamber Report
By Jessie Gurner
August is more than half-way over, so we need to talk about… Christmas.
Yes, we know. It’s 94 degrees, and your flip-flops are practically melted to the sidewalk. But the Chamber has been quietly planning the most wonderful time of the year. Think of it like this: we’re just giving you a head start so you won’t be that person duct-taping a gift bag at midnight on December 24. (And for the record, red duct tape is surprisingly festive. But, that’s a story for another time.)
We like to think of the fall as a kind of seasonal layover. One minute we’re still talking about record-breaking watermelons, the next we’re hanging lights and trying to remember where we put the extension cords. That’s the magic of Water Valley: we do summer with gusto, and then we roll right into the holidays as if Hallmark had us on contract.
Here’s what’s coming up in our little movie-ready town.
November 15: Holiday Open House. This is where the Christmas season officially starts in Water Valley. Local shops will roll out the welcome mats with holiday specials, treats, and enough cheer to make even the Grinch rethink his life choices. This isn’t just shopping, it’s an experience. You’ll wander into stores that smell like cinnamon and fresh-baked cookies, see windows dressed to impress, and probably run into at least three people you know. And you’ll do it without waiting in any of those “big city” lines that wrap around the building.
Participating businesses will be offering door prizes, and the Chamber will be drawing for the grand prize. This is a gift certificate redeemable at any Chamber-member business in town. The drawing happens at 3 p.m., which means you have to shop early, shop often, and make sure your name is in the hat.
December 5: Christmas in the Valley. If you could bottle “small-town Christmas magic,” this would be it. Downtown will sparkle under twinkling lights while live music sets the festive mood. You can sip hot chocolate, stroll the streets, and take a carriage ride that will make you forget your to-do list. And snow. Let’s not forget the snow. We can predict snow with 100 percent confidence. (Sorry, Matt Laubhan. Sometimes small towns just out-forecast the pros.)
Shops will stay open late, which means you can shop under the stars. This is something that feels far fancier than it should. There’s just something about walking into a store in your coat, cheeks cold from the night air, and being greeted with “Merry Christmas!” from behind the counter.
December 6: Christmas Tour of Homes. If you’ve ever driven past a house and thought, “I wonder what it looks like inside at Christmas,” this is your chance to find out, and without risking trespassing charges. Several of Water Valley’s most beautiful homes will open their doors, each one decorated in its own unique style. We can’t wait to see which ones lean traditional with classic greenery and red ribbons and which go all out with themed trees and rooms so full of lights you half-expect them to be visible from space.
You’ll leave with decorating ideas, a deeper appreciation for our town’s architecture, and probably a mild case of garland envy. And if you’re lucky, you’ll pick up a decorating tip or two from the homeowners, who somehow manage to make it look effortless. (We suspect hours of work and a lot of strategically placed extension cords.)
December 12: Water Valley Christmas Parade. Floats will be decked out in lights, and the whole town, plus a lot of visitors, will line the streets to cheer them on. Kids will be craning their necks for the first glimpse of Santa, and more than a few parents will be holding onto their hot chocolate cups like they’re life rafts. It’s tradition, it’s community, and it’s the kind of night that makes you glad you live in a place where the entire town comes together to celebrate.
So even though it may still be hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk, and you might be reading this while fanning yourself and sipping sweet tea, go ahead and mark those calendars. In just a few months, you’ll be bundling up, shopping under gleaming lights, and making enough holiday memories to carry you into the new year.
