Holiday spirit is strong for Christmas Kick-off Weekend

Ritzville businesses experienced a very successful Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26 and are now preparing for the Christmas Kick-off Weekend.

The Christmas Kick-off Weekend begins on Friday, Dec. 2, in Ritzville. Local businesses have teamed up to provide specials and coupons for the weekend in order to promote shopping local.

A list of the businesses and specific coupons available for this weekend can be found on Page 10.

Ritzville’s very own Main Street hosts many gifts for the whole family including tablets, antiques, garden items and clothing. Gift cards to local businesses, as well as Chamber Bucks, are always options to keep in mind during the holiday shopping season.

For the second consecutive year, residents are invited to Christmas at the Carnegie, the official tree lighting ceremony. The lighting will take place on the front lawn of the Ritzville Public Library at 5:30 p.m.

Mayor Gary Cook will begin the Ritzville Holiday Festival weekend with the lighting of the tree, followed by caroling. After the songs, all community members are invited inside the library for refreshments.

Residents are invited to explore downtown as local businesses stay open late to provide an opportunity for shopping and taking advantage of special promotions offered.

Many of the holiday specials extend throughout the weekend, and a few businesses have offers lasting throughout the month of December.

The Ritzville Festivals Association will once again be hosting their annual Christmas tree sale beginning on Dec. 3, at 9:30 a.m. at their building on Railroad Avenue. After the Saturday sale, all the remaining trees will be moved to Ritzville Hardware and be available for purchase.

Saturday will continue to provide events for locals with the 43rd annual Holiday Bazaar sponsored by the Ritzville Branch of the American Association of University Women. This event will take place at the Ritzville Grade School from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The event will host a wide variety of vendors selling items such as candles, bake sale treats, soap, cards and books. Additionally, Santa will be available for photos, which will be provided by Kayli Maier Photography.

The free children’s movie matinee will be taking place on Saturday as well. The movie this year is The Santa Clause. The doors to the Ritz Theatre will open at 1:15 p.m. and the movie will begin at 2 p.m.

The Ritzville Fire Department will then deliver Santa to the theatre after the film around 3:45 p.m., where children will receive free treats from local firemen and Santa.

The City of Ritzville is hosting a campaign to encourage area residents to shop local this year. Any individual who purchases an item from a local business on Dec. 2 or Dec. 3 can enter a drawing to win a variety of prizes.

The receipt from the purchase must be kept and taken to the Ritzville Public Library. A table will be set up with a selection of baskets comprised of items from local businesses.

With the receipt, shoppers can write their name and phone number on the back and enter it into the drawing for any of the baskets.

There is no limit to how many receipts an individual can enter, as long as each receipt is dated on Dec. 2 or Dec. 3.

All shoppers must enter the drawing before 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5, to be eligible to win. The winners of the drawing will be contacted on Dec. 6.