If you have an event that is open to the public, let us know at least one week in advance. **Paid promotions** are also available. Contact Dee Duryee at the Great Bend Tribune, 2012 Forest Ave., Great Bend, KS 67530; call 620-792-1211 or email dduryee@gbtribune.com.
DECEMBER
Ice Skating
Dec. 1st-22nd - Thursday/Friday 4-8 p.m., Saturday/Sunday 1-6 p.m., Jack Kilby Square, 1400 Main St. Free skate rental.
MONDAY, Dec. 2
Red Cross Blood Drive - 12:30-6 p.m., St. Joseph’s Parish Center, 110 W. 2nd St., Ellinwood
TUESDAY, Dec. 3
Holiday Open House - 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Wheatland Electric, 200 10th St. Stop by to enjoy a slice of pie for their holiday open house.
Giving Tuesday - Donations accepted at the Golden Belt Community Foundation through 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 3. Drop off at 1307 Williams St. or go to goldenbeltcf.org and click DONATE.
Giving Tuesday Celebration - 4-8 p.m., Gambino’s Pizza, Great Bend. A benefit for the Alzheimer’s Association of Central & Western Kansas.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4
28th Annual Holiday Charity Coffee - 9:30 a.m., Farmers Bank & Trust, 1017 Harrison.
Barton Fall Student Recital — 4:30 p.m., Dorothy Moses Morrison Chapel, Fine Arts Building. 245 NE 30 Rd. An afternoon of music from the instrumental and vocal students.
THURSDAY, Dec. 5
Holiday Concert and Fine and Performing Arts Hall of Fame Inductions - 7:30 p.m., Fine Arts Auditorium. 245 NE 30 Rd. Admission is free. Donations accepted. A holiday extravaganza featuring the Barton Concert Choir, Hilltop Singers and JazzCats. The evening will include the induction of faculty and alumni into the first year of Barton’s Fine and Performing Art’s Hall of Fame.
FRIDAY, Dec. 6
Creche Nativity Experience - 3-8 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5851 Eisenhower Ave. Free event. Hundreds of nativities on display, live musical performance, children’s activity corner, hot chocolate and much more.
Collective Goods Book Fair — 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Clara Barton Medical Center, 250 W 9th St., Hoisington. A portion of the proceeds will help the Clara Barton Foundation and Hospital Auxiliary.
Red Cross Blood Drive - 12 - 6 p.m., Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Center, 1111 State St., Larned
Barton Cougar Dance Day - 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Studio 34, Dance students interested in learning more about dancing in college are invited to attend Barton Community College’s 5th annual Barton Cougar Dance Day. Dancers aged 13-19 years are welcome to join in a day-in-the-life in our dance department with our current dance students. During the event participants will take short dance classes, attend dance information seminars, rehearse with Barton’s dance company - Barton Dance Theatre, and more.
SATURDAY, Dec. 7
Christkindlmarket — 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., at the Historic Wolf Hotel and Events Center, 1 N Main St., Ellinwood.
Santa’s Bazaar - 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - two locations, Bushton Community Center and Bushton Plaza. The day’s festivities will include a virtual reality Santa’s sleigh ride, an appearance by Santa, art and craft show, soup contest, face painting, raffle, children’s activity corner, concessions and more.
Creche Nativity Experience - 3-8 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5851 Eisenhower Ave. Free event. Hundreds of nativities on display, live musical performance, children’s activity corner, hot chocolate and much more.
Golden Belt Model Railroad Association Open house - 1:30-6 p.m., 1405 Main St.
Adopt a Pet - 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Golden Belt Humane Society will be at Bomgaars, 5320 10th St.
Holiday Open House - 1-4 p.m. at Heartland Farm, 1049 County Road 390, Pawnee Rock.
Christmas at the Old Toy Store - 2 p.m., Crest Theater, 1905 Lakin Ave., Great Bend. A free Holiday Theatre Performance about an antique toy shop keeper and his magical toys. This performance features local community actors including children from our surrounding communities.
Community Music School Recital - 4 p.m., Dorothy Moses Morrison Chapel. End of the semester student recital for children enrolled in Community Music School for the fall 2024 semester. Free event.
SUNDAY, Dec. 8
Claflin Christmas Market - 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Park & “A” Street, Claflin. Vendors, live holiday music, breakfast & lunch concessions, Clydesdale pulled wagon rides, ugly seater contest, and Santa.
Ghosts of Christmas Past — 1-5 p.m. at the Barton County Historical Society Village and Museum, 85 South U.S. 281. Free open house.
Golden Belt Model Railroad Association - 1:30-6 p.m., Open House, 1405 Main St., Great Bend. HO slot car races, 3-5 p.m.
Christmas at the Old Toy Store - 2 p.m., Crest Theater, 1905 Lakin Ave., Great Bend. A free Holiday Theatre Performance about an antique toy shop keeper and his magical toys. This performance features local community actors including children from our surrounding communities.
Stan Kenton Christmas Brass Concert - 3 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 2701 24th St. Free concert consisting of 22 instrumentalists and percussionists.
Christmas Open House - 2-4 p.m., Ida Long Goodman Memorial Library, 406 N Monroe St., St. John, Discover the Digilab, Santa will be there from 2-3 p.m., Decorate a Christmas cookie, create a Christmas card, enjoy a hot drink.
MONDAY, Dec. 9
Santa’s Workshop — 6-8 p.m., Great Bend Recreation, 1214 Stone St. Step into the North Pole and join Santa Clause for an evening of holiday fun! Bring your letters for Santa. This event is designed for children preschool age thru 6th grade. Admission is free.
Central Kansas Community Choir - 7:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 2123 Forest Ave. Annual concert Part One of Handel’s “Messiah”
TUESDAY, Dec 10
Golden Belt Badgers youth mountain bike racing team info - 6:30 p.m., the Front Door Community Center, 1615 10th St. Central Kansas youth in grades 6-12 have another sport to choose from – mountain bike racing. The Golden Belt Badgers team is part of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). The Badgers are an area-wide team, inclusive of Barton County and the surrounding area. A parent and youth informational meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Front Door Community Center in Great Bend, 1615 10th St.
THURSDAY, Dec. 12
Hoisington Chamber Coffee — 9:30 a.m. at Wilson State Bank.
Book Club - 10:30 a.m., Hoisington Friendship Club.
FRIDAY, Dec. 13
Red Cross Blood Drive -
10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Polk Street Building, 1309 Polk St.
12 - 6 p.m., St. Michael Catholic Parish, 918 Lincoln St., LaCrosse
SATURDAY, Dec 14
**Second Saturday Sale ** - 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Forest Avenue Antiques, 2025 Forest Ave. Storewide sales!
KWEC Holiday Open House - 9:00 a.m. - 12 p.m., Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156
Christmas Fun - 1-4 p.m., Great Bend Coffee, 2015 Lakin Ave. Visit with Santa. Crafts and treats for kids. Live Christmas music.
SUNDAY, Dec. 15
Vespers — 2 p.m. Vespers vocal concert at the Great Bend High School Auditorium
Youth Choir Concert — 3:30 p.m. at the Great Bend High School Auditorium
MONDAY, Dec. 16
Red Cross Blood Drive -
9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Advanced Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, 4801 10th St.
11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Prince of Peace Parish Center, 4124 Broadway.
Cheyenne Bottoms Christmas Bird Count - All Day, Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156
TUESDAY, Dec. 17
Open Book Club — 7 p.m., Great Bend Public Library, 1409 Williams St. Open Book Club meets the third Thursday of each month. Everyone is welcome.
THURSDAY, Dec. 19
Hoisington Chamber Coffee — 9:30 a.m. First Kansas Bank.
A North Pole Wonderland - 3-5 p.m., Equity Bank, 725 McKinley St., Meet Santa and his special guests and enjoy a hot chocolate bar.
SATURDAY, Dec. 21
Golden Belt Model Railroad Association - Open house 1:30-6 p.m., 1405 Main St.
Great Bend Laundry Love - 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Discount Laundry, 924 Jefferson St. Wash up to five loads of laundry for free. Sponsored by United Way of Central Kansas.
SUNDAY, Dec. 22
Golden Belt Model Railroad Association - 1:30-6 p.m., Open House, 1405 Main St., Great Bend. HO slot car races, 3-5 p.m.
MONDAY, Dec. 23
Blood Drive - 12:30 - 6:30 p.m., Hoisington Activity Center
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 25
Larned Laundry Love - 4-6 p.m., Santa Fe Laundry, 1309 Broadway. Wash up to five loads of laundry for free. Sponsored by United Way of Central Kansas.
FRIDAY, Dec. 27
KWEC Drop-In STEM Activities - 1-3:30 p.m., Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156
