5 week stretch of special events begin this week

This week contains some of the biggest shopping days of the year.

Friday, the traditional date for the opening events related to the Christmas Shopping Season is now known as Black Friday and Saturday is being promoted as the day to Shop Small.

Superior merchants have special values and activities planned for both days. Because of the slow down in mail service, many of those merchants placed their Black Friday and Shop Small advertising in the last issue of The Express. Some have chosen to repeat the same advertising in this issue. When making your weekend shopping plans, we suggest you review the advertising in this issue and the prior week’s issue.

And here is a brief report on many of the holiday events that are on the schedule.

Registration is now open for the Superior Bucks Give Away promotion. Participating stores offer one slip for each visit to their store. The first drawing will be held on Monday. Additional drawings will be held on Dec. 4, 11 and 18. The bucks can be used like cash at participating Superior businesses. The bucks may also be purchased at the Superior Chamber of Commerce office and given as gifts.

The 21st rendition of Candy Cane Lane opens at 6 p.m. Friday and will continue through Sunday evening, Dec. 31. For the annual event, Lincoln Park is turned into the lighted wonderland. Entrance is via Fourth Street. Horsedrawn hayrack rides will be available this Friday and Saturday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will also be motorized hayrack rides on Dec. 1 and 8. Both dates are Fridays. The hayracks will load near the Scout Cabin east of the elementary school. The cabin will be open and serving hot chocolate, chili, hot dogs, hot apple cider and S’Mores on the days the hayrack rides are offered.

For youngsters wanting to write a letter to Santa Claus, there will be a special mailbox located in Candy Cane Lane.

The Nuckolls County Historical Society will present a Christmas Program at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, in the museum church. The program will feature musical entertainment by John Price Jr. and Arnold Miller Refreshments will be served in Pioneer Hall.

The Superior Auditorium has three musical programs scheduled in December. The Reed Family Christmas Concert is the first. It will be presented from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3. The Talmage Quartet returns to the auditorium for a concert at 7 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 8. The Flatwater Jazz Orchestra will present Big Band Christmas Music at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16.

The Annual Once Upon a Christmas in Superior event is scheduled for downtown Superior from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8. Central Avenue will be closed for this event between Fourth and Fifth street. There will be carolers, costumed Christmas Characters and other activities on that block of main street. The hayrack for rides through Candy Cane Lane will load in the parking lot near the city utility office from 6 to 7 p.m. There will be a free movie sponsored by Alexander Motors at the Crest Theatre.

Santa Claus will visit with the youngsters at the Farmers & Merchants Bank. Brodstone Healthcare will serve a meal. Mrs. Claus plans to visit Main Street Floral. Ideal Market will offer youngsters an opportunity to decorate a cookie. There will be an ugly sweater contest at Superior Pharmacy. A snow machine will be operating at Superior Ace Hardware, The Harvest Christian Church and the Superior High School Choir will provide carolers. Home Federal Bank is sponsoring the Prince and Princesses who will be strolling the downtown.

There will also be a free movie at the Crest on Saturday afternoon sponsored by Aurora Cooperative.

Donations of new and gently used toys, new gloves, hats and coats are being collected though Wednesday, Dec. 13, at Superior Ace Hardware and Ideal Market for the Secret Santa project formerly known as Toys for Tots. This gift collection is sponsored by the Stateline Strutters.

The Nuckolls County Giving Tree is a multi-community effort sponsored by several organizations and businesses. Gift tags are available at Superior Pharmacy and the Dollar General Store in Superior, Farmers & Merchants Bank in Lawrence, and the Nelson Post Office.

The project goal is to provide 100 Nuckolls County families with gifts and food this holiday season. Monetary donations may be sent to Giving Tree, 164 Road 3650, Superior.

Superior isn’t the only community planning special events in the coming month. This issue of The Express has advertisements for a Christmas Home Tour in Lawrence and special Christmas related activities at the Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud.