Small Town Christmas draws good crowd

Cold, windy weather didn’t stop Clarendon’s second annual Small Town Christmas from attracting a good turnout for holiday fund and Small Business Saturday savings at local merchants.

Committee Chair Denise Bertrand said thought the event went very well considering how cold it was and said she had received only one complaint.

Bertrand’s committee will be meeting in January to discuss things to improve upon for next year’s event.

Several merchants reported a busy day Saturday, and Bertrand said food vendors did very well. The Roost had a full house for craft and specialty vendors and was a busy place downtown, and a barrel train kept kids entertained. Santa’s Play House also provided crafts for kids at the Clarendon College Downtown Center.

A scavenger hunt during the day drew three teams with first place and $75 in Chamber Cash going to the Dream Team – Elizabeth and Deon Cowan; second place and $50 in Chamber Cash going to the Judge & Jury – Pat and Kelly Hill, Mandi Gay, and Holly White; and Kirsten Bertrand was third and got $25 in Chamber Cash.

In the Gingerbread House contest, results were as follows: Children’s Category – Titus Truex, first place, $75 in Chamber Cash, Tobias Truex, second place, $50 in Chamber Cash, and Cavett Dorl, third place and $25 in Chamber Cash; Adult Division – Lisa Heald, first place and $75 in Chamber Cash and Emery Truex, second place and $50 in Chamber Cash.

Tom Thompson was the first place winner of the Ugly Sweater Contest with a $75 Chamber Cash prize. Annette Osburn got $50 in Chamber Cash for second place, and Krista Percival got $25 in Chamber Cash for third place.

Drawings were held throughout the day, and then winners were as follows: Lowe’s $50 Gift Card – Terri Luna, Garrison’s $50 Gift Card – Shonda Lowrie, Clarendon County Club Golf Package – Kirsten Bertrand, Lowe’s $50 Gift Card – Annette Osburn, Quarter Hog from O’Keefe Family – Corita Hopper, Clarendon Country Club Golf Package – Miss Etheridge, and Quarter Hog from O’Keefe Family – Roy Bertrand.

That evening at the courthouse, Lion Club members served about 150 cups of hot chocolate, and Santa handed out gifts to scores of kids after arriving at the square in a horse-drawn carriage.

The Howardwick choir and Clarendon Elementary students performed Christmas carols, and Randy White read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” before the lights were turned on for the season at the Courthouse.

Also last weekend, a benefit movie on Sunday at the Mulkey Theatre collected more than $700 in donations for the Donley County Community Fund during a special presentation of “The Polar Express.”

This year’s Small Town Christmas celebration was generously sponsored by Republic Services and was a organized by a dedicated volunteer committee under the Chamber of Commerce.