News Staff Report
Mark your calendar. You’ll need to in order to keep up with the Christmas events coming up in the next few weeks.
Following are Chamber of Commerce events you don’t want to miss.
Santa in the Park
Santa will arrive at Heritage Park in the lighted Atmore train Saturday, December 7 at 4:30 p.m.
There will be photos with Santa, a train ride around the park, hot cocoa, and free Christmas cookies.
Kids can write a letter to Santa, make reindeer food, and visit with a real “Elf on the Shelf.”
Santa in the Park begins at 4:30 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m.
Chili Cookoff
The Chamber invites you to attend and / or participate in the Annual Chili Cookoff Saturday, December 14, at Heritage Park, from noon until 2 p.m. (while supplies last).
Participants in the Chili Cookoff compete to win the highly sought-after award of Chili Champion. In addition to the chance of being named this year’s “Chili Champion,” awards will be given for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and People’s Choice.
With no entry fee and open to both members and non-members alike, this is a great opportunity to help your community while having fun.
Tickets go on sale soon and are $10 each. Each ticket contains one “Favorite Ticket” and five “Taste Tickets.”
Throughout the event, a Chamber representative will collect the tickets and tally them. For every ticket received, participants will receive one vote. At approximately 1:30, the Chamber will announce the final collection. At approximately 2:15, a new “Chili Champion” will be announced.
Contact the Chamber to reserve your space. The deadline is December 12, 5 p.m.
Twilight Christmas Parade
The Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 Twilight Christmas Parade theme is “A Dr. Seuss Christmas.”
The parade will be held Saturday, December 14, at 5:30 p.m. Float participants will need to be in line by 4 p.m. The parade will begin at City Hall and end at Escambia County High School.
Mandatory safety meetings will be scheduled to discuss parade rules, i.e. unloading instructions for floats, etc. (dates and times below). Judging for floats will take place during the parade with cash prizes and additional awards given. Floats are judged on creativity / originality, costume creativity /originality, lighting sound, adherence to theme and overall appearance. Regarding rain – if rained out – the Chamber will make every effort to reschedule, though no guarantee is made. Please review the rules below regarding entries.
* No cars or trucks will be allowed (other than antique cars) with the exception of those carrying parade sponsors, homecoming courts, Little League queens, Miss Poppy, Miss Mayfest, etc. (Please contact the Chamber should you have special circumstances.)
* Due to increased liability, the Chamber will not be able to allow horses with riders.
* All trailers carrying children must have fenders over all the tires.
* Drivers must be 21 or older. Please include proof of this information with your application.
* Each float must have no fewer than two walking monitors on each side and one observer in the cab other than the driver.
* Unloading instructions for floats, etc. will be given out at the safety meeting.
* Floats are responsible for their own throws.
Safety meetings will be held Tuesday, December 10, and Thursday, December 12, at 5:30 p.m., at the Atmore City Hall Auditorium. Please have your driver or representative attend one of these meetings.
As in the past, the Chamber also encourages walking characters or clowns. Because they can interact with the crowd, they are always very popular with the children. Santa Claus will be hosted this year by United Bank. Therefore, no other live Santa or Santa suits may appear on any other entries.
For more information on this event or any Chamber related activities, please e-mail the Chamber at info@AtmoreChamber.com, call (251) 368-3305, or visit 137 North Main Street in Atmore.