Soon, it will begin to look a lot like Christmas in Great Bend. In preparation for the festive season, the Great Bend City Council Monday night approved the annual permissions required for the city’s annual celebration.

“The Home for the Holidays Festival and Parade is just around the corner,” Community Coordinator Christina Hayes said. “It’ s Great Bend’s way of inviting Santa to town and kicking off our Christmas season.”

Partners in making the festival happen have stated they are willing to serve the free items again this year and the window decorating contest is back with great prizes for the businesses, she said. 

“This is always the best way to kick off the holiday season,” she said. This event has been happening annually since 2006.

Approved were:

Approved various permissions needed for the annual Home for the Holidays Festival and Parade set for Nov. 25.

• Closing Main Street from 24th to 12th street during the Home for the Holidays Parade from the hours of 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Also, the Police Department will help keep the intersections cleared especially around Lakin Avenue for the parade.

• Keeping Main Street closed from Broadway Avenue to 12th Street for an additional two hours after the parade, giving the horse-drawn carriage, train rides and free food vendors access to the street area.

• Closing Lakin Avenue from 4-9 p.m. and parking on the north side of Lakin Avenue from noon to 9 p.m.

• Permission for approved event vendors to set up in Jack Kilby Square on Thursday and Friday prior to Nov. 25. This includes temporary walls for Foundry Community Church pictures, and hot dogs and hot chocolate stands.