Valley City  – The Chamber is revamping its Christmas in the Valley promotion.

Tanya Couture, Board Member,  says “In years past there was the Christmas Raffle button and grand prizes attached to the button raffle.  After review thepast few years, have shown a rapid decline in participation in the button raffle with last year seeing the worst numbers in history.”

She says prizes are no longer a draw to participate either.

She adds, that, there are prizes that are left unclaimed that have a value of $20 to $200 plus dollars!  She adds, “It is simply mind boggling to us ALL on the commerce committee that a prize of $200 isn’t enough of a draw or value to get a persons attention.”

She says the chamber of commerce committee, has been reassessing events and  “We will be trying new approaches to bring the community of Valley City fun and entertaining ways to support and interact with our local businesses.”

She did point out that an event that was very well received, was the Construction Cash.  There were well over 13,000, participants in that event.

Christmas in the Valley 2019 will introduce “The 12 Days of Christmas!”  running from December 6th through the 23rd (only business days count, no weekends).

The chamber will be distributing boxes, much like Construction Cash, and the slips for people to sign up.  No purchase is necessary to sign up and participate.  The commerce committee or participating businesses will make gift baskets to coordinate with each of the 12 days of Christmas.  The chamber asks that businesses pick a day they would like to help with, either contributing items for the theme of that day or simply making a monetary donation to cover the costs incurred to run this event.

Here is a list of the 12 days of Christmas and some ideas for filling the gift baskets:

* Day 1:  partridge in a pear tree

+ Pear soap

+ Pear candles

+ Pear lotion

 

* Day 2:  two turtle doves

+ Turtle candy in a pair of champagne flutes

 

* Day 3:  3 French hens

+ Gift certificate for a chicken dinner

+ French beret and scarf set

+ Book about French cooking

 

* Day 4:  Four calling Birds

+ Bird feeder

+ Bird identification book (bird watching basket)

+ 4 angry bird launchers or angry bird themed items

 

* Day 5:  5 Gold Rings

+ Gold napkin rings with holiday themed cloth napkins

+ Gold rings and earrings

 

* Day 6:  6 Geese a Laying

+ Goose down filled throw and pillows

+ Chocolate crème filled eggs (6 of them)

+ Goose down filled gloves

 

* Day 7:  7 swans a swimming

+ Origami swans

+ Swan shaped soap

+ Bubble bath with rubber duckie

+ Swan scarf

+ Swan necklace or bracelet

 

* Day 8:  8 maids a milking

+ Milkmaid caramels

+ Hot chocolate mix

+ Cow print socks

+ Goat milk soap

+ Milk lotion

 

* Day 9:  Nine ladies dancing

+ 9 pairs of socks

+ Foot lotion

+ Ballet slipper necklace

 

* Day 10:  10 Lords a leaping

+ Men’s care package

+ Men’s slippers

+ Men’s shave kit

 

* Day 11:  11 pipers pipping

+ Wind chimes

 

* Day 12:  12 drummers drumming

+ Ice cream drumsticks

+ Drum of popcorn

+ Drumsticks

+ Men’s socks with drums on them

+ Men’s tie with drums on it

 

Ms. Couture points out more holiday events:

Ladies Day  November 9th.

 

Small Business Week November 25th – December 2nd.

 

Holiday Parade of Lights December 5th.

 

Tour of Snowmen will run November 30th – December 23rd. The cost to rent a snow man is $40 dollars.

 

Those businesses wishing to participate is asked to please let the chamber know.

Anyone with a snowman and the business does not want to participate please drop the snowmen off at the Chamber Office so that they can get that to a participating business.

 

Anyone with questions or are interested in participating, please let either the chamber or Tanya Couture, know how or what your business would like to do to participate.