Chamber Is Gearing Up For Holiday Fun

By Editor | October 4, 2023 |

Chamber Report
By Jessie Gurner

Just in case anyone is wondering, it’s 81 days until Christmas, as of today, Oct. 4. Yes, we still have Halloween and Thanksgiving to enjoy. But just like Santa, the Chamber board knows that those 1,944 hours will fly by as fast as Rudolph and friends can zip over rooftops. With that in mind, they are getting into the spirit with two months of events celebrating the holiday season leading up to Christmas.

First up is Holiday Open House. This holly jolly event is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Shoppers may register at participating local businesses for a variety of door prizes. Christmas will come early for one lucky participant, when their name is drawn for a $500 gift certificate from the Chamber. This can be used at any of the Chamber member businesses and does not have to be redeemed at one store.

The Chamber Elf will be out and about for the 4th year visiting businesses and taking pictures with shoppers. Santa sends a different elf to the Valley each year, and this one looks a lot like Chamber board member Jessica Richardson.

Heading up Main Street next will be the Water Valley Christmas Parade on Friday night, Dec. 1. This year’s theme is Magical Winter Nights. The spectacular line up of bands, vehicles, and floats, created by community groups and organizations, will start from the Crawford Sports Complex beginning at 6pm. Applications are available at the Chamber office or by contacting Tonya Eubanks at 662-609-7370 or tonyaeubanks@att.net.

Entries can be made in five categories: a business or organization float, a business or organization non-float, marching band or school organization, street legal and tagged vehicles including antiques or emergency vehicles, and “other.”

Next up will be Christmas in the Valley on Dec. 8. You can enjoy after hours shopping, music, food and carriage rides with friends and family from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Frosty the Snowman and the Chamber Elf will be on hand for photos. The Chamber president is predicting snow at 8 p.m. in front of BTC Old Fashioned Grocery. (Let’s see Matt Laubhan beat that for accuracy!)

And if all of that isn’t enough to put a smile on the face of the grinchiest Grinch, let’s add the Chamber’s Christmas Tour of Homes scheduled for Dec. 9. Still being planned, there will be more information on this event next time.

Let’s remember there is a lot riding on the holiday season for our local retailers. The past few years have been difficult ones, some struggling just to stay open. Everyone at the Chamber understands the impact each of us can have on our Water Valley’s economy if we join together to support our local businesses.

Have questions about where you can find certain things locally? Ask us. Follow The Water Valley Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook. Comment, email, or message and we’ll help you out. We’d love to hear your success stories as well.

Let’s have a very merry, home town Christmas this year.