Get your holiday on at community events

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By Mary Jo Coulehan
Pagosa Springs Area Chamber of Commerce

We have been talking about shopping local these past weeks in preparation for Small Business Saturday, which was Nov. 27. I hope that our Pagosa residents were able to shop locally and support some of our establishments. However, the holidays are not over and there is still plenty of time and deals going on to help you complete that holiday shopping list. 

This coming weekend we will see a number of holiday events take shape. It is a busy time, so make time in your family holiday schedule to include a little bit of community spirit. 

Beginning on Thursday, Dec. 2, the Festival of Trees holds its public open house. Santa, hot beverages, cookies and voting ($1 per vote) for your favorite tree will be held from noon until 6 p.m. at the Ross Aragon Community Center. Then, on Friday, Dec. 3, the auction for the Festival of Trees will be held, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and the auction taking place at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the Community Center, and you can also reserve a table for your group of friends. A cash bar and hors d’oeuvres will be available along with live music by Steve Blechschmidt. If you purchase a tree and want to donate it back, you can contact the staff at the Community Center for more information.

The Pagosa Springs Chorale Society will hold its annual Christmas Concert with “We Need a Little Christmas.” The concerts are free to the public and will be held at Pagosa Springs High School on 8th Street. The concert schedule is: Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3 and 4, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 5, at 4 p.m. This group of amazingly talented community members offers free concerts every year to the public. After this moving concert, if you would like to donate to the organization, funds will be accepted. Get ready for a resounding holiday musical celebration.

If you would like to donate to the Shop with a Cop program this year as an individual or business, go to www.durangofop.org and click on the donation tab or Shop With a Cop tab. This year’s event will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 8, helping 50 children from Archuleta County. 

The Holiday Lighting Contest residential and business addresses have been announced. The participants will have their businesses and homes lit from Nov. 26 to Dec. 31. An updated map and list of participants is in this week’s PREVIEW section of The SUN. You can also vote for your favorite location through the app or https://bit.ly/3kP2TUN. Voting ends Dec. 19, and winners will be announced in The SUN on Dec. 23. 

There will be lots more to talk about in the upcoming weeks. Use these handy resources mentioned to keep you updated and busy throughout this holiday season. And don’t forget — shop local.