It’s that most wonderful time of the year, when folks in communities everywhere gather to celebrate, dance, dine, and buy gifts at their favorite local merchants. While the events below tend to be hometown affairs, we’re sure any of them would welcome visitors from neighboring towns or afar.
If you know of other events later in the season not listed here, please send details along to spur@thetexasspur.com and we’ll share in next week’s issue and on social media.
SPUR, DEC. 1
Spur’s Late Night Shopping/santa claus arrival, presented by the Spur Area Chamber of Commerce and local merchants, will be held the evening of Thursday, Dec. 1, and will include the Masonic Lodge Pancake Supper, downtown lighting, vendor fair, and arrival of Santa at the Palace Theater. Stay tuned for details!
MATADOR, DEC. 1
“Christmas in Matador” will be held Thursday, Dec. 1, bringing holiday merriment throughout the day.
Events kick off with a special exclusive shopping opportunity for senior citizens from 4 to 6 p.m. This is their chance to drive and shop in daylight hours and Matador local merchants will be on hand to help them with purchases and will even, have special offers and discounts for them.
At 6 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus—after debuting around the Square—will arrive in style at the Hotel Matador. There will be hot chocolate for the kiddos and a chance to take a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Live Christmas music will be played at the gazebo on the courthouse grounds, featuring the Ricky Green band from Roaring Springs.
At the Motley County Library kids of all ages can visit with Grinch and Cindy Lou Who, and buy books and baked goods.
Throughout the evening there will be food trucks, vendors and special activities for children.
Downtown local merchants—including Better Than A Biscuit, Resq’d Junkery and Coffee Shop, New to You, Matador Variety and Motley Farm and Ranch—will all be open late and will be having special drawings. For every $10 spent customers get an entry form into a drawing for a $200 Visa card, $100 cash and a gift basket with items from local merchants.
LEVELLAND, DEC. 1
South Plains College will host its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at its Levelland campus on Thursday, Dec. 1, at the entrance to the college. Musical entertainment will be provided by the college’s fine arts department, directed by Dr. Gary Hudson. The SPC Band will begin playing at 5:30 p.m.
At 6 p.m., South Plains College president Dr. Robin Satterwhite and Miss Caprock Machayla Parkinson will insert the missing lightbulb into a string of lights as the countdown begins to the tree lighting. This spectacular holiday event will mark the beginning of a communitywide celebration, “Festival of Lights Christmas on the Square.”
After the lighting ceremony, the parade will start at 6:10 p.m., leaving campus and heading south on Barnes Drive. It will pass by the men’s residence halls before turning west onto JV Morton Drive. Participants will view the holiday lights adorning buildings throughout the campus. From there, the route heads north on College Avenue toward downtown and turning west on Houston Street to the Square. Santa Claus will be at the gazebo on the square at 6:30 p.m.
The SPC Office of Student Life will provide hot chocolate and holiday coloring pages to patrons at the event.
For more information, contact Director of Student Life Josh Meredith at (806) 716-2377.
LUBBOCK, DEC. 2
Texas Tech’s 64th Annual Carol of Lights will serve as the official kickoff for the university’s Centennial Celebration. This annual event is attended by thousands of students, alumni and members of the Lubbock community and is one of Tech’s largest and oldest traditions. This year, the program will be reimagined with live entertainment, new staging, lighting, and sound as well as a fireworks display to conclude the night.
The carillon concert begins at 6:30 p.m., and the ceremony begins at 7 at Memorial Circle and the Science Quad on the Texas Tech campus in Lubbock. The event is free and open to the public; a clear bag policy will be in force.
FLOYD COUNTY, DEC. 3
“Dance all night, dance a little longer, or just sit and visit with the neighbors and friends,” invite the organizers of Floyd County’s 8th annual Country Christmas Ball, slated for Saturday, December 3, 2022.
Music from Wendell Sollis and the Sidekicks All Star Band will liven up the Floyd County Friends’ Unity Center, on Hwy. 70 halfway between Lockney and Floydada, that night beginning at 6 p.m. with a catered meal by River Smith’s. The night’s other festivities will include auctions, drawings, raffles, vendors, and a complimentary gourmet coffee bar.
“This is an awesome band, performing Western swing, classic country, Cajun, big band and Christmas favorites,” said leader Wendell Sollis, a veteran banjo player who’s been performing since the 1970’s. His shows include Six Flags, Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium, and Quartz Mountain resort in Oklahoma. He has performed with The Texas Playboys and Texas Sand and now leads the Sidekicks.
Cathy Jewell, who won Female Vocalist of the Year from the Academy of Western Artists Pure Country, will be the emcee.
For tickets and information, call Dustee Sollis at (806) 983-6228.
SILVERTON, DEC. 3
Silverton business owners have organized a citywide Christmas Open House that will take place in different places around town on Saturday, Dec. 3, to promote business in Silverton to existing and new patrons.
On December 3, 12 businesses will be opened at selected times during the day. (Check the advertisement in this issue for participants, addresses, their specific times, and special events for each individual business).
Each business will have a free entry card for a drawing to win one of four baskets filled with cash and gifts worth over $250. The more businesses you visit, the more entries you can accumulate. Entry time ends at 6:25 p.m. sharp! The drawing for these baskets will take place under the pavilion on the square at 6:30 Saturday night.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m., the Silverton Parent-Teacher Organization will host a pancake dinner and pictures with Santa in the Silverton Downtown Building on the south side of the square.
There will also be a Polar Express train ride, hayrides, reindeer games, a coloring contest, window and tree decorating, and story time at the library with Dottie Powers and some of her junior students.
At 6:30, the community will gather for the annual Light Up the Square for the 2022 Christmas season. We will finish the night with some Christmas carols after the square is lit, then it is back to fun and games!
SPUR, DEC. 4
Spur’s Living Nativity, presented by the Spur First United Methodist Church, will be held in front of the church the evening of Sunday, Dec. 4. The public is invited to watch this annual pageant from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
JAYTON, DEC. 7
Kent County Winterfest returns to Jayton’s Multipurpose Building on Wednesday night, December 7, 2022, with vendors, food, and winter fun. Watch this space for event details, or contact L’Rae Lee at (806) 237-3751, lrae.lee@ag.tamu.edu.
LOCKNEY, DEC. 10
Mark your calendars for Saturday, Dec. 10 from 6 to 8 pm for Lockney’s annual Downtown Christmas celebration. There’ll be shopping, live music, a train for the kids, and of course, Santa! More details to follow. Local vendors are welcomed to set up for no fee.
QUITAQUE AND TURKEY, DEC. 10
On Saturday, Dec. 10 from 12 noon until 6 p.m., small businesses in Turkey and Quitaque will host Christmas in the Valley as an opportunity to celebrate the holidays while supporting local merchants. Both towns will be giving away large gift baskets at each of their evening tree lightings, and all participating businesses in both towns are offering sales and promotions.
In addition to shopping, both towns will have entertainment for the kids. On Quitaque’s Main Street there will be ornament decorating, Christmas tree decorating, a chance to meet Santa, and carriage rides in Quitaque. $5 per person for access to all kids activities in Quitaque.
Turkey’s Gem Theatre will be open and playing “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at 2 p.m. and “The Elf” at 8 p.m.; $5 for admission, includes popcorn and drink.
Follow Christmas in the Valley on Facebook for more details. For vendor information, contact Linay Williams at Black Creek Innovations, (830) 426 9967.
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