Christmas events begin

Christmas is less than a month away and the celebration of the Christmas season kicks off this weekend in Custer.
The 31st annual Custer Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, at 5:30 pm. This parade of lights signals the kick-off of the holiday season in the Southern Hills. After the parade, the annual Juanita Fish Memorial Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place at Way Park. The parade will begin at 8th and Mt. Rushmore Road and end at Way Park on 4th and Mt. Rushmore Road.
People interested in entering the parade should call the Custer Area Chamber of Commerce at 673-2244 or download a registration form at  custersd.com/Custer-Christmas-Parade. There is no fee for participating. Awards will be presented for Best Use of Lights, Best Musical Entry and Judges’ Choice.
The community is invited to the annual Holiday Open House at Custer Senior Center Dec. 5 from 1-4 p.m. All guests are requested to wear face masks.
The postponed November craft fair will also be held that day.  More vendors are welcome, but they must first contact Shirley Lake at the center.
A set of two publications—a history magazine and a recipe book—will be available for pre-order for customers to reserve the limited number of those books for purchase.  When both books are available, the sets will be paid for at that time (possibly in early January).
The books have been works in progress for most of 2020 as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the center in 2021.  A dedication page is included in each book for the 13-year director of the center, Jill Kettle. Her sudden death Nov. 16 stunned the Custer community which was loved and promoted by her.
Two hundred single history magazines are available for sale Dec. 5. The magazine is full color with layout by the Custer County Chronicle.
The open house will include music, refreshments and craft items for purchase.
Christmas also means Custer Cash drawings. The Custer Area Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Hill City Chamber of Commerce to provide “Community Christmas Cash” that can be spent at participating Custer and Hill City businesses.
Three drawings will be done on Facebook Live. On Dec. 4 there will be four $50 winners, with six more $50 winners named during the Dec. 11 drawing. The final drawing Dec. 18 will see four winners of $100.
On Dec. 11 Custer Senior Center will host a cookie and candy walk from 8 a.m. to noon. Those who attend may buy cookies and candy for $8 per pound.
Finally, the 27th annual Christmas For Kids will take place Saturday, Dec. 12, from noon to 5 p.m. at Custer Jr./Sr. High School The event is for all Custer County children up to age 10. There will be games, lunch and Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand to hand out gifts. Preregistration is required and is done online at custerchristmas4kids@gmail.com.
To adhere to Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, there will be a limited number of participants in the building at any given time. Children who are registered will be sent an email letting them know what time to arrive. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
For more information or to donate, contact Dani Schade at custerchristmasforkids@gmail.com or call 673-2663.

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