By the Bushton Pride Committee
BUSHTON, Kan. – Do your children or grandchildren want to see Santa and take a ride in his sleigh? They can! Do you want to take them on a horse-drawn wagon-ride? You can! Do you want to do some fun and relaxed Christmas shopping? You can! You and they can enjoy all of that and more in just one day at the annual Bushton Pride Committee’s Santa’s Bazaar in Bushton on Saturday, December 2.
The day’s festivities, which have been expanded this year, will feature a virtual reality Santa’s sleigh ride and an appearance by Santa, plus horse-drawn wagon rides, an arts and crafts show with over 25 vendors, a soup contest, face painting, a raffle, a children’s activity corner, a do-it-yourself Christmas photo booth, and concessions.
With more activities than ever before, the event will take place in two locations – the Bushton Community Center and the Bushton Plaza (the former Central Plains Middle School). The event’s activities will run at various times between 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Kicking off the day’s events will be the magical virtual reality ride in Santa’s sleigh, sure to get one and all in the Christmas spirit. Rides will be available, free of charge, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the Bushton Plaza.
Arts and crafts vendors will include unique handmade items such as homemade baked goods, handmade soap, homemade home décor and jewelry, handcrafted wood products, books, and puzzles as well as other new and exciting items. The arts and crafts booths will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at both locations.
The Christmas Kids Corner will run from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the Plaza and will feature cookie decorating and crafting activities.
Horse-drawn wagon rides will be available from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., running between the Plaza and the Community Center.
Santa Claus will be making his appearance and handing out goodie sacks from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the Plaza.
The soup contest is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Community Center, with three categories – chili, chicken noodle and “other.” A soup tasting kit can be purchased for $5.00.
The Bazaar’s raffle, with over 75 prizes, will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the Community Center.
Tickets will be available for purchase at both venues.
There will be face painting and a do-it-yourself Christmas photo booth at the Plaza throughout the day and Crazy Wolf Coffee of Ellinwood will be at the Plaza from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. offering specialty coffees.
In addition, Pride will be selling t-shirts, and concessions, provided by the Traveling Oilers, will be available throughout the day at the Community Center.
Sponsorship for the day’s events has been provided by ONEOK, Midwest Energy, Quivira Federal Bank, Richard Thompson/Waddell & Reed, Ellco Insurance Services, Great Plains Agency, Habiger Farms & Harvesting, and T-Bird Center.