Great Bend shoppers have the opportunity to participate in a fun event this Saturday as they visit local retail stores and support Small Business Saturday. The seventh annual Great Bend Holiday Cookie Contest is being held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., allowing people to sample cookies from 16 participating business locations and vote for the best cookies in town.
“The Holiday Cookie Contest has become a tradition for shoppers and retailers in Great Bend,” said Anna Hammond, Rosewood Services representative and cookie contest organizer.  “It’s such a fun event for people, and it brings shoppers into stores. The best part is that the money raised goes to helping people in need.”
A donation of $5 is suggested for all participating judges, with the collected proceeds going to the Food Bank of Barton County.
To be a judge for the cookie contest and vote for your favorite cookies, stop by Cookie Headquarters at Rosewood Furniture Gallery, 16th and Main in downtown Great Bend, to pick up a cookie box and voting bracelet. All votes must be returned to Cookie Headquarters by 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Besides getting to tame their sweet tooth and having a say in retail cookie bragging rights, Cookie Contest judges have a chance to win prizes during drawings that will take place at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday, following the “Home For The Holidays Parade” in downtown Great Bend. Drawing winners must be present at the band shell of Jack Kilby Square in order to win prizes. Following prize drawings, the winner of the Great Bend Holiday Cookie Contest will be announced.
Businesses participating in this year’s Great Bend Cookie Contest are Rosewood Furniture Gallery (Cookie Headquarters), A440 Musical Instruments, Brown’s Shoe Fit Co., Buckle, Beautiful Beginnings Boutique, Cornerstone Interiors, Defy Expectation Clothing Company, E&E Glass, Great Bend Coffee, Office Products Inc., Kustom Floor Designs, Northview Nursery, Perks Coffee Shoppe, Rana Luna Boutique, Renue Salon and Spa/ Yours Truly LLC, Rosewood Wine Cellar.