November, a time to explore Great Bend
This November, the City of Great Bend is working with dozens of local businesses in a promotional campaign known as “Explore Great Bend Month.” This is the second year for the month-long event.
Every Saturday in November (and on Black Friday), shoppers can visit participating retailers and register to win the $1,000 shopping spree giveaway, said Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes. There will also be a second place shopping spree of $500 and a third place prize of $250. It’s free to register in any of the participating locations, but drawing boxes will only be put out on the special Explore Great Bend dates.
Over 30 businesses have signed up to take part.
The themes for the Saturdays are:
• Nov. 2: Open houses and Chili Cookoff – Holiday products will be on display and good chili will be available.
• Nov. 9: Explore Great Bend Day and Great Bend High School Panther Paw Craft Festival – See the city and get some Holiday shopping out of the way.
• Nov. 16: Find the Hidden Turkey Day – find the hidden turkeys at participating businesses and get discounts.
• Nov. 23: Camp Hope Charity Day – Participating businesses will donate a portion of their sales to the local effort to preserve the cancer camp for children.
• Nov. 29: Black Friday – Christmas sales begin.
• Nov. 30: Small Business Saturday, Cookie Contest and Holiday Parade – Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. and the cash prizes will be given away afterwards.
The Explore Great Bend pins sold in advance of the city’s Party in the Park held in September will again be valuable during November, Hayes said. Many of the participants will offer specials to those wearing the pins.
The tastes and smells of the annual Charity Chili Cook-off will greet the senses Saturday as 10 entrants vie for bragging rights. All proceeds go to the Great Bend Food Bank, said Sarah Krom of Sunflower Diversified Service which sponsors the event.
The chili will be ready to serve by 11 a.m. when tasting and the blind judging will begin. The public is encouraged to join in with the purchase of a $5 taster bracelet, have a lunch, and select the ‘People’s Choice’ Chili 2013.
Tasters will be able to purchase bracelets at the Barton County Arts Center, Forest and Main, and two additional event booths at Broadway and Main and Lakin and Main.
This year, along with strolling down Main, Sunflower is providing a Gambler’s Chili for those that don’t get their fill tasting the entries. To make this, Sunflower staff members contribute a quart of their favorite chili recipe which is randomly mixed with a base, so each pot is different.
While taking part, Krom invites tasters to explore Great Bend and taste what each entrant has contributed to the event. Saturday marks the opening of the second “Explore Great Bend” month.
“Sunflower truly enjoys reaching out to central Kansans and showing our appreciation for all they do for people with developmental disabilities served by Sunflower,” Krom said. “The Food Bank can always use more community support and with the changes in food stamp benefits their mission will be called upon to serve greater numbers in the coming months. Participants in the chili cook-off will be able to take personal satisfaction in contributing to this worthy cause.”
Barton County Arts Council has provided its facility as event headquarters and this year the Volunteers in Action program, coordinated by Linn Hogg and RSVP, has assisted in meeting the needs of this event with several student volunteers.
“Sunflower much appreciates the collaboration of these agencies in this endeavor,” Krom said.
For more information about the chili cook-off, contact Krom at 620-792-1321.
