Harvest Celebration to Feature Local Downtown Businesses

Neepawa’s first Harvest Celebration will take place on Thursday, October 19, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. It features activities for all ages, not the least of which being shopping. The new project from the Neepawa and District Chamber of Commerce was initiated by two chamber members who suggested the community do something to both celebrate fall and promote Small Business Week, which runs from October 15 to 21.

Weather permitting, some downtown businesses may be holding sidewalk sales, says Jennifer Wiebe, director of the Chamber of Commerce, but regardless they will be remaining open an extra few hours and holding special promotions and prizes to reward people for staying local. As well, the local library will be staying open late and holding a book sale and maker’s market in their community room with handmade items from local artisans.

The County Courthouse building will become the hub for other activities taking place, including kids games and a free movie at the Roxy Theatre. There will also be two separate fundraisers taking place simultaneously on the courthouse grounds: a cider and hot chocolate sale to fund repairs to the Chamber of Commerce parade float, and a hot dog barbecue to help fund the Citizens on Patrol program.

As always, community events such as this one run on volunteers. If anyone is interested, they can contact the Chamber of Commerce office at 204-476-5292. Or, as host Dave Bennet points out, if they want to volunteer anywhere else in the community, there are plenty of organizations that would be glad to have them.

Wiebe closes by highlighting a few other upcoming Chamber of Commerce events including the Parade of Lights on November 24, the Annual General Meeting on January 29, and several free workshops being organized in partnership with the Minnedosa Chamber of Commerce.