Holiday season kicks off this weekend in Sallisaw

You’ll forgive Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marty Green this time of year if he channels his inner Clement C. Moore.

For the next month, Green may not have visions of sugar plums dancing in his head, but by the time Sallisaw’s Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities wrap up in mid-December, he’ll undoubtedly be ready for a long winter’s nap.

And with apologies to the jolly old elf, you’re likely to hear Green exclaim, ere he drives out of sight, “It’s just a good time. It’s just Americana at its best.”

Green, after all, is giddy with anticipation of a winter wonderland of holiday shopping, twinkling lights aglow in the downtown district, todie- for hot cocoa, traditional Thanksgiving food and what could be Sallisaw’s biggest and best Christmas parade ever.

“It’s just a good time. It’s traditional things that’s been done around here for years,” Green says. “It’s really a neat deal for your family. So bring your families, come out, be a part. There’s something for everyone.

“It’s going to be very memorable.”

Shop ’til you drop

The holiday festivities kick off this weekend with the Merchants’ Christmas Open House, a shopping extravaganza that continues next weekend for many of the merchants.

“We’ve encouraged businesses to have hot chocolate in their stores, or wassail, cookies or something to get people to come in during the evenings,” Green says of the pre-Christmas campaign.

And with four weeks of holiday activities, Green hopes Sallisaw merchants “stay open to let people come in and do some shopping.”

“Shop local, shop small, which is coming up basically Thanksgiving weekend. It’s very important that we support our local businesses as much as we possibly can,” he says.

Businesses participating in the Merchants’ Christmas Open House include: Alley & Elm, Becca’s Bargains, BuckingHam Palace, Charlie’s Chicken, Klaira Boutique & Tanning, Perfectly Posh, Sissy’s Consignment, Solo’s Coffee Company and Bistro, The Flower Nook, Jody’s Floral Designs, and Velvet & Birch Boutique.

“It’s a great time to shop local, and we got a lot of merchants participating,” Green says. “It’s only for this time, once a year.

“Some of them are open Saturday and Sunday. Some just Saturday. Some of them not at all this weekend. Some are going to do it next weekend,” Green explains about the long-standing event. As a matter of fact, the chamber is already making plans for next year’s event.

O Christmas tree

Aside from fireworks on the Fourth of July, it’s hard to experience more oohs and aahs than when the lights are turned on for the first time on the community Christmas tree. That eye-popping wonderment occurs at 6 p.m. Nov. 21 on the lawn of the Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library.

“We’ll have candy canes. They’ll be hot chocolate provided — the city helps make all that stuff, and they do a really good job of it. They’ve got the recipe down,” Green says, all but yielding to memories of past hot cocoa indulgences.

“Santa will be there that night. The kids can get their picture made with Santa after the mayor turns on the Christmas lights. So we’re looking forward to that, and hope the weather cooperates with us.”

Music for the occasion will be provided by the Sallisaw Middle School chorus.

He then reminds downtown businesses to take advantage of the Christmas crowds that will be just outside their doors.

“We’d encourage all of our merchants to stay open that night, because there’s a crowd that comes down for that. Certainly, our restaurants will benefit, because there’ll be people who want to come in and have a sit-down meal,” Green says.

We gather together

The community Thanksgiving dinner, now in its 10th year, is one of the year’s highlights. Scheduled 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at Sallisaw Middle School, the holiday get-together is a collaborative effort of the Sequoyah County Resource Network.

“KiBois Community Action Foundation is the one that heads that up. We’re one of many businesses and individuals that help sponsor that,” Green says.

“I’m looking forward to the turkey and dressing already right now, and the gravy. Oh my goodness, it’s wonderful. The school cooks prepare the meal, and it’s a really neat deal,” he says. “You see people there from all walks of life, and everybody just sitting around, visiting with one another, and some doing volunteer jobs. Some organizations and clubs are doing volunteer stuff, where they can bring your food to you, pass out desserts. And there’s some that they’re greeters, that’s their job that day. So it’s a neat deal.”

KiBois Area Transit System runs its vehicles free that day, transporting residents living in the Sallisaw city limits to and from the dinner. Past dinners have fed 600 to 800 people.

“I’m looking forward to it very much. You can’t go out there and not see people you know, it just doesn’t happen,” Green says.

Another main event

Whether shopping or seeing the Christmas tree lit up or enjoying the community Thanksgiving dinner, there’s always room for more holiday cheer, and that continues Dec. 14 with the Christmas parade.

Entries to participate in the parade, as well as the community-wide “Deck the Yard” home decorating contest and the storefront decorating competition, are due Dec. 6.

Green says the theme for parades in Sallisaw, Muldrow, Roland and Gore are all the same, allowing businesses to participate without having to decorate differently for each parade. The theme this year: Your favorite Christmas toy land.

“It’s fast and furious once parade time gets here. But it’s just a good time,” Green says. “It’s something that’s nice to be a part of during that time.”

There is no charge to participate in the parade, but entry information is required.

“We encourage people to participate in as many parades as they can, it’s really good advertising. There’s more people that watch the parade after the parade’s over than watch it during the parade because it’s archived, and they can watch it online,” Green says, noting that as many as 5,000 people watch online. “So it’s a chance for businesses to advertiser their stores and businesses.

“Every business should have an entry and a float in the parade. Every business, whether you’re a chamber member or not. Every church, every civic organization, every 4-H or FFA club. All those groups, because there’s categories for all those, and we do give prize money.” Categories for the parade are: Business, school and school organizations, churches and non-profits, and farms.

“Hopefully the weather will be nice. And we’ll have the marching band and stuff like that. We’re looking forward to it,” he says.

Last year, there were about 60 or 70 entries, Green says.

So should Green lay a finger aside of his nose, don’t be standing between him and a chimney as he prepares to make off like the down of a thistle.

For questions other than what it was on the lawn that arose such a clatter, call the chamber office at 918-775-2558.