Sand Mountain Reporter

One official described the first-ever Boaz Christmas Extravaganza as “the Harvest Festival but colder.”

The daylong event, organized by the Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled Dec. 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Boaz.

Chamber President Keyesta Sherman said vendors at the 45th annual Harvest Festival held in October suggested the idea for a holiday-themed event. About 200 vendors set up for the Harvest Festival.

“They said there’s nothing to really do at Christmas as far as arts and crafts festivals,” Sherman said. “They said our Harvest Festival is so smooth and asked if we’d do one at Christmas.

“I talked to the chamber board and the mayor, and they liked the idea. We knew we had six weeks to pull it off, but we’ve gotten a good response. We sent off applications to all our vendors who were at the Harvest Festival, and the applications are coming in. We just need people to support it.”

Of course, weather could be an issue, but Sherman thinks the briskness of late fall will work in the event’s favor.

“It’s going to be on a Saturday,” Sherman said. “What I envision is folks out there in their scarfs and mittens shopping in Boaz. We’ve got Christmas carolers coming to sing, and horse and buggy rides. We’re just trying to make it a down-home Christmas atmosphere.

“If we have a good response we’ll do it annually.”

The extravaganza also features photographs with Santa and gift-wrapping at the chamber for all presents with receipts purchased in Boaz that day.

Boaz Mayor Tim Walker said the festival is “another opportunity for a community event to promote sales in the downtown area as well as throughout the town. It’s just an opportunity to be more of a community.

“With all the improvements we foresee in the downtown mall, I’d love to see this continue every year.”

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Publisher: Ben Shurett

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