SWCC Cookie Walk back for a third year
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Strathmore Wheatland Chamber of Commerce (SWCC) is hosting their third annual Cookie Walk and is encouraging as many in the local community as possible to come and participate.
According to Alyssa Bennett, who spoke on behalf of the SWCC, the event will kick off at noon on Nov. 25, starting off a full day of celebrations.
“Basically, families are going to go to Royal LePage, they are going to pick up their tins … and then once you pick up your tin and a map, you can go around to as many businesses that are participating,” she said. “The Strathmore Wheatland Chamber of Commerce is providing the cookies to our member businesses that are participating this year, as one of the ways we want to give back to our members, and show our appreciation for their membership.”
Following the Cookie Walk will be Strathmore’s annual Santa Parade, and the kickoff of the Celebration of Lights at the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society grounds.
A cookie tin can be purchased through the SWCC website for $20 for anyone wishing to participate, and businesses can register to be a part of the event for free.
“The SWCC wanted to have the ability to bring the community together and help other people see and be involved with the businesses downtown, shop local – that sort of idea,” said Bennett.
She suggested the event has seen growth every year it has taken place, with more and more people signing up to participate, or joining in on site during the course of the event.
“It is one of the most exciting events that we do every year. While Christmas is the ultimate, but on top of that, everybody just gets to come downtown, come together and it really encourages people to shop local,” she said. “There are a lot of things downtown that maybe people do not know about, so this is a good way to get them down and bring the town together.”
Bennett did not specify how many businesses exactly have signed up to participate this year, nor did she state numbers of residents who have indicated interest to participate.
“It is about the excitement of the kids. The cookie walk starts and it paves the way for the rest of the day. You get to start going out and getting all of these different kinds of cookies and things that people have come up with … and then right after, there is the Santa parade and then the Celebration of Lights,” she said.
More information about the event is available via the SWCC website.