By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Great Bend Cookie Contest enters its 15th year
new_lgp_cookiecontestartwork

Holiday traditions abound across the world, but one that is unique to the local area is participation in the Great Bend Cookie Contest. For the past 14 years, hundreds of shoppers have launched into the Christmas season by way of sampling and judging sweet treats served at Great Bend retail stores during Small Business Saturday. 

The 15th annual Great Bend Cookie Contest is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 25 in conjunction with the Home for the Holidays Festival. As in previous years, all collected proceeds go to the Food Bank of Barton County to help feed those in need during the holiday season and beyond.

The cookie contest allows people to sample cookies from participating businesses and vote for the best cookie in town. A maximum 250 shoppers have participated in the event each of the past three years. Cookie contest organizers are anticipating large participation numbers again this year and encourage shoppers to get their voting bracelets by noon, otherwise, they may already be gone.

This year, there are a few changes to the contest rules: 

• The donation amount to enter has increased to $10 per participant.

• Each judge can purchase up to three bracelets for the contest. (There was no limit on bracelet purchases in previous years.) 

To vote for your favorite cookie, stop by Cookie Headquarters on Saturday (Nov. 25) at Rosewood Furniture Gallery, 16th and Main in downtown Great Bend, to pick up a cookie box and voting bracelet. All votes to be counted must be returned to Cookie Headquarters by 4 p.m. on Nov. 25.

Besides getting to sample amazing cookies and having a say in which business bakes the best cookie, cookie contest judges have a chance to win prizes during drawings that will take place at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 25, 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 Cookie Contest will be announced.

Businesses participating in this year’s Great Bend Cookie Contest are Rosewood Furniture Gallery (Cookie Headquarters); Kustom Floor Designs; Buckle; Great Bend Coffee; Bling; Rosewood Bargain Barn; A440 Musical Instruments; Forever Young (Kids Resale); Heart of Kansas/Ms. Pretty Pickles; The Wright Place; and Rosewood Wine Cellar.