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Holiday parade, fest winners listed
Officials deem annual event a success
christmas parade main
A lighted entry makes its way along the 2022 Home for the Holidays Parade in downtown Great Bend on Nov. 26. Officials have announced the winners of the various contests related to the annual festival. - photo by DALE HOGG Great Bend Tribune

The City of Great Bend welcomed Christmas to town on Nov. 26 with its Home for the Holidays Festival and Parade, and the annual event successfully ushered in the Yuletide Season, Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes said.

The festival concluded a month of Explore Great Bend shopping promotions in November and a day of seasonal activities on that Saturday. The theme paid homage to the city’s 150th anniversary this year – “150 Years of Celebration” with former City Attorney Bob Suelter serving as grand marshal.

“Overall, the event was a huge success,” Hayes said. The count in the Barton County Courthouse Square after the parade was around 2,000 with the lighting of the Mayor’s Christmas Tree, the announcement of the various contest winners, the ice sculptor Reverend Butter, Phlox Fire, and free hotdogs (1,400 were given out), funnel cakes and hot cocoa.

Now, there is no rest for the weary.

“We look forward to next year’s Home for the Holidays event and ways to make the event different, yet familiar, to help families make memories, she said.

Below is a recap of the award winners:


Cookie Contest winner  

In Rosewood Services’ 14th annual Cookie Contests, for a suggested donation of $5, participants received a bracelet and acted as contest judges. They sampled the cookies prepared by the participating businesses and cast their votes using the bracelets.  

The collected proceeds go to the Food Bank of Barton County to help feed those in need during the holiday season and beyond. This year, they donated $1,380.

The winner was:

• Forever Young


Window decorating

It was also the third year for Rosewood’s Christmas Window Decorating Contest. There were 24 windows participating.

Rosewood judges viewed from Nov. 22 to Dec. 2 for their first- and second-place awards, of $1,000 and $500, respectively. There was also a $1,500 People’s Choice award.

Winners were:

• Yours Truly Gift & Flower Shoppe, 2017 Lakin Ave., People’s Choice, $1,500

• Dilly and Doc Creative Studio, 1119 Main St., first place, $1,000

• Images by Emily, 1419 A Main St., second place, $500


Home for the Holidays Parade winners 

One of the showcase events for the Home for the Holidays Festival was the lighted parade. Here are the winning entries out of the 52 that took part:

• Best Youth Group Entry, Euphoria Dance Centre

• Best Civic Group or Club, Barton County Fair Association

• Best Themed Entry, Peoples Bank and Trust

• Best Private Entry, Credit Union of America

• Best Church Entry, First United Methodist Church

• Grand Marshal’s (Bob Suelter) Pick, Credit Union of America


Explore Great Bend winners

There were four themed Saturdays in November: Mingling and Mimosas Day, Holiday Open Houses, Find the Turkey Day and Small Business Saturday. Shoppers had the chance to sign up for Great Bend Chamber of Commerce gift certificate prizes. Winners were: 

• Marcia Dietz - $250

• Pam Kitch - $500

• Andrea Holman - $1,000

• The Find the Turkey winners were Jamie Johnson, Jessika Stroud and Darla Stroud


Great Bend 150th Anniversary winners

City officials are still choosing the last 150th winners. They hope to be done by next week, but Hayes said it may take longer.

The last of the contests, these contestants found 150th celebration cards hidden in all participating stores.

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A member of Phlox Fire demonstrates his skills as a part of the Home for the Holidays Festival Nov. 26. - photo by DALE HOGG Great Bend Tribune