Great Bend’s downtown businesses will tempt shoppers with cookies during the Home for the Holidays festivities on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Merchants are invited to sign up for the Cookie Contest, which brings people into the stores to sample cookies and shop before the annual parade and tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Participating businesses must provide cookies and donate one item for the drawing that will take place after the parade. The grand prize is $1,000.
For more information on the Cookie Contest, contact Jennifer Stoddard via email at jennifers@rosewoodservices.com.
Floats and other entries are still being accepted for the Home for the Holidays parade. Coordinator Sarah Krom said there were 25 entries as of Friday, but she expects to get a few more this week. This year’s parade theme is, “All I Want for Christmas Is ...”.
Contact Krom via email at sekrom@sunflowerdiv.com or at Sunflower Diversified Services, 792-792-1321.
“They’ve got several things going on after the parade,” Krom said. That includes free wagon rides, hot chocolate, rides on the City Train, ice skating and Santa Claus in the courthouse square.
Nov. 30 is also Small Business Saturday. Several other activities are planned at various locations.

This week’s events
Monday, Nov. 18: Adopt a child or family for Christmas. Visit Farmers Bank & Trust lobbies for details and return gifts by Dec. 13.
Thursday, Nov. 21: Shop late. Most stores will be open until 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23: Explore Great Bend. Register for the $1,000 prize, to be drawn after the Nov. 30 parade.
- Camp Hope Charity Day. Participating stores will donate a percentage of sales to Camp Hope, a free camp for kids with cancer.
- Christmas Craft Mall opens, 1705 Main.
Sunday, Nov. 24: National Quilt Museum presents Jacobs Ladder. New art exhibit opens at the Shafer Gallery, Barton Community College.