Breckenridge Texan

Downtown Breckenridge will be filled with holiday spirit Friday evening as the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Christmas tree lighting and the Mingle and Jingle shopping event.

Businesses participating in Mingle & Jingle will be open extended hours on Friday, Nov. 17, from 6 to 9 p.m. for the holiday shopping event. This year, the Chamber has extended Mingle and Jingle to Saturday, with many businesses also opening at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18. Not all businesses will be open for the entire event, but many will.

Several businesses will be holding drawings for gift certificates or other prizes. At participating businesses, customers can put their names in the Chamber Raffle Bag to be entered into a drawing for gift certificates at participating businesses. Additionally, Clear Fork Bank will have a drawing at noon Friday, Nov. 17, for some spending money; enter your name in the drawing at the bank.

At 6 p.m. Friday, the lights on the community Christmas tree, located in downtown Breckenridge in Foundation Park at the corner of Walker Street and Breckenridge Avenue, will be turned on. Additionally, all of the Christmas lights on the downtown buildings will be turned on at the same time.

During Mingle and Jingle, Break 180, a free monthly Bible-based enrichment program for children in Breckenridge, will host “Mingle Jingle with Jesus” for kids in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. The event will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, at First Methodist Church, 419 W. Walker St. Registration at the door will be limited. Learning enrichment activities will include art, cooking, making a gift for a resident at Villa Haven, and games.

Businesses participating in Mingle & Jingle include:

• 40 Something Cowgirls
• Abecca Grace
• Bertie & Olif Boutique
• Breckenridge Bargain Box
• Blackhorse Mercantile & Cafe
• Classy with a Little Sass
• Cactus Chic Home Decor
• Doty’s Outdoor Equipment Repair
• Halo Cosmetics
• Katherine Parker Designs
• Higginbotham Brothers
• Little Caesars Express Breckenridge
• Main Street Floral And Gifts
• MLR Graphics
• Marjorie Garren – Tupperware
• Ol’ Timer’s Diner
• Rhaine Medical Spa
• RLB Fabric Sales
• Stephens Memorial Gift Shop
• The Hub Antiques
• The Vintage Butterfly
• The White Orchid Florals & Event Rentals
• Thurmon Furniture
• Breckenridge Woman’s Forum

In addition to hosting Mingle and Jingle, the Chamber of Commerce announced this week that they are partnering with the Breckenridge Economic Development Corp. to offer a “Holiday Shopping Spree Extravaganza.” There will be a total of $5,000 in “Chamber Bucks” given away in the program, which will be from Nov. 17 to Dec. 18. According to the Chamber, when a customer spends $25 at participating businesses, they will be given a card to put their name and phone number; they will take that card to the Chamber to be placed in a hopper. Then, every Monday for five weeks, there will be drawings and prizes of $50 to $500 in “Chamber Bucks” will be given away. The “Chamber Bucks” will be able to be used like cash at participating businesses. The program is open to Chamber member businesses. To participate, businesses should call the Chamber.

For more details, check out the Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page.