Celebrate Holdredge for the Holidays!

Small town living is at its best during the holiday season and that is abundantly apparent in Phelps County, Nebraska. They work hard to bring their slogan to life: “There’s no place like Holdrege for the Holidays!” 

The Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce puts on a sleigh-full of activities and events starting with holiday open houses on November 12th and culminating with the New Year’s Baby- Guess the Date Contest on January 1st. December 11th is a big day with the Holdrege Chamber Winter Festival. Two popular ongoing festivities throughout the season are the Small Business Card Stamping Program and the Let it Glow! Holiday Light Competition.

Small Business Card Stamping Program

Once again the Card Stamping Program is in full swing until December 18th with 27 participating businesses. Dollar amounts spent at these businesses are punched out on a card that once filled, can be dropped off at one of the businesses or the Chamber office by December 21st to be entered into a drawing for cash prizes of up to $5,000 in Chamber Checks. In 2019, there were approximately 7,500 cards filled out and turned in for the drawing which translated into about $1.5 million spent locally. All Saturdays are double stamp days!

Let it Glow! Holiday Light Competition

The competition is delightful this year for the second annual Let it Glow! Holiday Light Competition. Thirteen businesses and 18 residences are competing this year in eight categories. And there’s a map so that you can easily find them all! Look for the yard signs as you go along because you get to vote on your favorites! Find your ballot here. Voting closes December 20th at midnight and prizes will be announced at Great Western Bank on December 21st at 9:30 a.m. 

Holdrege Chamber Winter Festival, December 11th

December 11th will be a day packed with Winter Festival fun. Full details and registrations can be found here, but highlights include a YMCA Ugly Sweater 5K, pancake breakfast, food trucks, fire truck rides with Santa at 4th and Grant, and the Lighted Tractor Parade.

The Lighted Tractor Parade sponsored by Landmark Implement will begin at 7:30 p.m. starting at Downtown Holdrege on East, 5th, and West Avenues and ending at the Winter Festival Street Fest at 3rd and East Avenues. A parade route map can be found here by scrolling down. Speaking of the Street Fest sponsored by Phil Hinrichs Farm Bureau Financial Services, it takes place from 7-11 p.m. at 3rd and East Avenues. There will be fun for the whole family with food, drinks, and music.

Be on the lookout for fun community participation outside of the scheduled events, too. Brad and Kathy McInturf will be leading tours from 1-4 p.m. on the hour on December 11th to show off their custom-crafted display with over 93,000 lights. Check out the details here.

December 18th

If you missed the fire truck rides with Santa during the Winter Festival now is your last chance. From 2-4 p.m. at 4th and Grant, hop on for a ride with Old Saint Nick himself. And remember December 18th marks the end of the Card Stamping Program and the end of voting for Let it Glow!

Thank You, Sponsors!

Holdrege for the Holidays is truly a community affair. Please visit the Chamber of Commerce website for the extensive list of sponsors and show them your patronage and support. The magic could not happen without them. Follow the Chamber’s Facebook page for up-to-the-minute information.