Chamber Prepares For Christmas Traditions

The holiday season is fast approaching and the Minden Chamber of Commerce is in high gear preparing for the fourth annual Christmas Traditions celebration.
Christmas Traditions serves as the kick off for Minden’s long standing reputation as Nebraska’s Christmas City as well as the beginning of the holiday shopping season for the local businesses.
The “Get Caught Shopping” promotion in Minden will add to the holiday shopping excitement.
‘Get Caught’ shoppers will be given $20 worth of Christmas City Cash and photographed on the spot.  The winner’s photograph will be featured in the Minden Courier weekly along with the name of the business they were caught shopping in.
The fun begins on Friday, November 26 with the appearance of Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Minden Opera House from noon-1:30 p.m.
A movie, “A Dog Named Christmas”, will be showing at the Minden Opera House beginning at 1:30 p.m.  Bring a donation of a can of food for the food pantry for admission to the free movie.
Following the movie, at 3:00 p.m. Santa’s Workshops will be held around the square for children.  The workshops are sponsored by the local businesses and children will have the opportunity to participate in creative crafts such as jingle bell necklaces at Anderson Jewelry; snow gauges at Minden Exchange Bank; Christmas stockings at Pedley Drug; light bulb decorating at First Bank; gingerbread houses at Rhynalds Auction and Realty and painted glass ornaments at McBride Realty.
From 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., a photo session with Santa and Mrs Claus will be held at the Minden Senior Center.
The annual Christmas parade and crowning of Miss Christmas City will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the downtown square.  The parade will line up on 4th street between Minden and Kearney Avenues and will travel west around the square.
In its second year, the Miss Christmas City ambassador contest will crown a young woman  nominated by private individuals and organizations.  Miss Christmas City will be selected on the criteria of volunteerism, care and compassion for others, determination and work ethic, leadership and community involvement.  There is still time to make a nomination for Miss Christmas City, nominations have been extended to Thursday, November 18.  Forms are available at the Chamber of Commerce office.
The tree lighting on the courthouse lawn and parade winners will be announced following the parade.
The Minden Community Players will provide an exciting end to the day’s festivities, presenting a “Christmas Revue” at the Opera House at 7:30- p.m.  The hour-long performance will feature musical talent from the Minden area performing both sacred music and holiday favorites.
“We hope that the Christmas Revue will become a new holiday tradition,” said Tim Beck, director. “We wanted to provide people who are in town on the weekends for the pageant something to do before the pageant begins.  The Christmas Revue will be musically dominated with singing, instrumental and some dancing and will be very family oriented.”
The activity continues on Saturday with a Farm Arts & Craft Fair at Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Beginning at 5:00 p.m., the Minden Community Players will present “A Christmas Revue’ followed by a dessert buffet at the Minden Opera House.
The sixty-fifth Light of the World pageant will begin on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.