The inaugural Bring Christmas Home for the Holidays in downtown Alva is set for Dec. 6-8 with tons of fun activities planned for the whole family, thanks to the Alva Chamber of Commerce and many volunteers throughout the community.
This special weekend events kicks off at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, with Santa, Mrs. Claus and friends on the Woods County Courthouse lawn along with hot cocoa, cookies and books and elves.
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. is the annual First Friday Artwalk at Graceful Arts and the Runnymede, along with a few downtown stores open late for shopping opportunities joined by the Wicked Grind Coffee Truck. Graceful Arts will feature Carla Miller and BJCC inmates. At the Runnymede, crafters will have their items for sale along with free hot chocolate from the Woods County Coalition and free chicken noodle soup from the Little Red Hens, sponsored by Ministerial Alliance.
At 6 p.m., Christmas carols will be sung on the downtown corners of the square by the NWOSU Choir members, led by Derrick Bready. Then at 7 p.m. there will be the Christmas tree lighting followed by Christmas carols on the courthouse stage, led by Austin McGee and the Interfaith Choir.
At 8 p.m., Kids and Cops are sponsoring a free Christmas movie at the Extreme for the whole family with free popcorn from Rialto.
Saturday Events
Saturday, Dec. 7, will be a big day in downtown Alva and will start at 7 a.m. with the Doggie Reindeer Dash and Santa Fun Run starting at 7 a.m., sponsored by Northwest Domestic Crisis Services and beginning at the Farmer’s Market. Contact [email protected] to sign up your dog and yourself.
From 8 to 9 a.m. a breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Elsa, Anna and Olaf will be held at City Hall for special needs children only. Then, from 9 to 10 a.m., all other children will be welcome to attend the breakfast and write letters to Santa with Mrs. Claus.
From 9 a.m. to noon, there will be a book sale at the Alva Public Library.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Runnymede will be a Holiday Store for Kids, sponsored by the Nescatunga Arts and Humanities Council, and Photos with Santa, sponsored by Northwestern Oklahoma State University Campus Campus Food Pantry and Holder Drug. Special needs children will be allowed into the Runnymede to shop and have photos taken from 9 to 10 a.m. Upon finishing with this group, the doors are open to all other children until 4 p.m. At 3 p.m., the store will open to any adult who might like to pick up a few items. One digital photo with Santa from this event selected by those attending will be provided for free thanks to Holder Drug. All other photos selected will be $5 each. All photos will be saved to a jump drive courtesy of Alva State Bank. Holder Drug also is allowing one 4x6 Santa photo to be printed for free at their business.
From 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the Courthouse Stage will be live entertainment.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Graceful Arts will be a Make & Take event for children to allow parents to shop.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be free face painting by Cake Face, sponsored by Gonzales Therapy Services; Nam & Pops’ inflatables and carnival games at the Extreme; and a gift-wrap station with the Alva High School Key Club on the Courthouse lawn, as well as Pocket Park Pop Up Shops and Farmer’s Market Vendors.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be free horse and carriage rides downtown.
At 1 p.m. will be a free Children’s Christmas Play at the ACT I Theatre, donations welcome.
From 2 to 4 p.m. at the Senior Citizen’s Center will be Christmas Cookie Decorating and story time with Mrs. Clause at the Library Pocket Park. Also, on the courthouse lawn there will be S’mores and Stories in Elsa’s Igloo, Anna, Olaf and Kristoff Reindeer photo opportunities, and Grinch’s Corner.
From 2:30 to 4 p.m. there will be a Christmas Talent Show on the Courthouse stage if they can get enough entries. Anyone who would like to be a part of this talent show with a Christmas-themed act should contact the Alva Chamber at [email protected]. It is open to all ages, and there will be prizes for the winners. The only rule is the talent must be Christmas themed.
At 4 p.m. will be Bed Races starting in front of Holder Drug. Up to $500 in prizes will be given away to the various winners. Businesses and organizations are invited to join the fun and gather a team, find a mattress and build the fastest bed. Contact the Alva Chamber of Commerce to get on the list of competitors. Rules for the races include the following:
Bed size: Beds must be between 2-feet-6 by 5-foot-8, and 6-foot by 8 foot, and include a mattress.
This will be a timed event, and the course will be a single down-and-back loop.
Wheels: Beds must have four functional wheels that stay in contact with the ground at all times. Wheels can be any size, but they don't need to be the same size.
Motors: Beds cannot have motors or mechanical assistance. Steering is allowed, not required.
Team composition: Teams consist of one rider and four runners or pushers.
Rider position: The rider must sit or lie flat on the bed at all times.
Pusher position: Pushers must remain behind or on the side of the bed and push the bed foot-first. All four pushers must be in contact with the bed at the finish line.
Safety: Racers must wear closed-toe shoes, and riders must wear helmets. Beds must be designed with safety in mind. Rider must weigh more than 100 pounds, and if under the age of 18, have parental consent. All participants must sign a waiver prior to the race.
Decorations: Teams are encouraged to decorate their beds with a theme, and costumes are a bonus.
The Bed can double as a Light Parade entry for the Christmas Light Parade at 7:30 p.m.
From 5 to 6 p.m. will be a Christmas movie at the Rialto Theater, then there will be a break from 6 to 7 p.m. for everyone to go eat before the Christmas Light Parade at 7:30 p.m. around the downtown square. There will be awards given, and the Candy Cane Cash drawing will take place at this time. The Alva Chamber will be giving away $3,000 in Chamber Bucks, and Alva State Bank, Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma and Windy Ford have all donated $1,000 each to be given out as Chamber Bucks as well. Must be present to win.
Anyone wanting to decorate a vehicle, golf cart, ATV, UTV, bicycle, unicycle, tractor, wagon, horse, etc., with lights for the nighttime parade should contact the Alva Chamber.
Following the parade, Chamber members will be handing out maps to anyone who would like to cruise Alva and enjoy all of the decorated homes that have been entered to win $500 in the Christmas Light Cruise decorating contest. Voting will take place for the remainder of December allowing families to drive by the homes all month long and vote on a favorite. A finished score card with name and phone number must be turned in to the Alva Chamber by Dec. 31 to be entered to win chamber bucks just for participating.
Anyone wanting to decorate their homes and be in the contest should contact the Chamber soon. The winner of the Best Christmas Lights in Alva prize will receive $500 in Alva Chamber Bucks thanks to Alva Health and Wellness.
Other Fun Events
Town-wide Christmas shopping.
Santa’s Bakery in the new Bridge2Hope building, located at 532 Flynn St., featuring several locally famous bakers selling tasty treats.
Food and Food Trucks – VAP Pizza by the slice, Kids & Cops Pulled Pork, Alva Brewing Company, Scotty’s Treats, Crazy A’s Food Trailer, and more waiting to be confirmed.
Sanctuary Massage Therapy School (601 4th St.) Clinical Hours Deal: 15-minute massages for $15, with all proceeds going to “Thatcher Strong.” Thatcher Severin is a 7-year-old boy from Goltry who is battling stage four Burkitt Leukemia. He is a second grader at Timberlake Elementary and the son of Tyler and Jordan (Tyree) Severin.
The special weekend continues on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 1 to 5 p.m. with a Tour of Homes ticketed fundraiser for the Cherokee Strip Museum. The tour has five homes to visit and admire around town, and tickets may be purchased for $10 at Holder Drug, LaDeeda and Daisy Village.
The Bring Christmas Home for the Holidays Event will conclude with a free Keyboards at Christmas concert held at the Alva Presbyterian Church where four masterful musicians playing on four grand pianos and an organ will provide a festive evening of music.
Questions may be directed to [email protected] and 580-327-1647, or visit the chamber’s website at https://www.alvaok.net/christmas or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/alvachamber for additional information.
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