Imperial’s Christmas Festival offering activities for all ages

    Excitement is building for Saturday’s Christmas Festival events in Imperial.
    Activities will kick off at 2 p.m. with a free movie for all ages at the Imperial Theatre, followed by activities in the city gym and outside, capped off with the Parade of Lights and a soup and pie supper.
    Chris Krausnick is coordinating most of the activities for the Imperial Chamber of Commerce-sponsored festival.
    She’s happy to hear weather forecasts call for a day with highs in the 40s.
    “A Christmas Story” will be shown at 2 p.m. Saturday, with free admission for all. Sponsored by the Imperial Lions Club, the PG-rated film runs about an hour and a half.
    After the movie, people can move to the city gym and City Square, where activities inside and out beginning at 4 p.m.
    Inside the gym activities will include a Christmas cake walk, Christmas bingo, a Santa letter writing station and cookie decorating.
    Those playing bingo or entering the cake walk should bring cans of food for each event. The food will be given to the pantry. Krausnick said people can play as often as they wish.
    Outdoors will also feature several activities including a live Nativity scene, a fire pit for making s’mores and coffee and hot chocolate sales.
    Krausnick also confirmed Santa and Mrs. Claus have Imperial on their busy schedule, and will be available outside to visit with children and take pictures.
    Capping off the downtown activities will be the Parade of Lights, starting at 6:30 p.m.
    Krausnick said on Monday she’s received about half a dozen entries so far, but more are welcome.
    The parade will travel the same route as the Chase County Fair Parade. Entries will start at the Manor, travel east on 10th to Broadway, then south, she said.
    Earlier this fall, the city council approved a resolution to close Broadway to traffic during the Christmas Parade of Lights.
    People are invited to view the parade anywhere along the route, Krausnick said.
    All entries will be judged to find the top three winners, who’ll receive $175, $125 and $75 in Chamber Bucks.
    A soup and pie supper is being hosted by the Imperial Country Club and The Back 9 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the clubhouse on West 7th. Free will donations will be taken.
    Chili, chicken noodle, cheesy potato, vegetable beef and taco soup are on the menu, with a variety of pies for dessert.
    The public is invited and to-go orders will be available.
Thursday contest deadlines
    There are four decorating contests local residents can get in on, and entries in all four will be judged on Thursday.
    Decorated homes will be judged after dark. Prizes include $175, $150 and $75 in Chamber Bucks. Winners the past two years are not eligible.
    Downtown light poles will be judged earlier in the day, as those entries compete for $250, $150 and $100 in Chamber Bucks. Participants need to register their intent to compete with Kevin Chavira at Pinnacle Bank.
    Residents can pick out one of the live trees on City Square for decorating in any theme. Chamber Bucks to the top two are $75 and $50. Call the city office to sign up.
    There is also a business storefront contest. Businesses will also be judged after dark, and will compete for lunch for their staff as first place winner. Chamber Bucks will go to second place.