The city of Whiteface will host A Whiteface Christmas on Dec. 14, offering contests, raffles and festive activities to the local community.
The promotional flyer invited the public to the community event and outlined a full schedule for the day.
Shopping will be available to attendees from 1-8 p.m., and Mayor James Soliz said the Whiteface volunteer fire department was on board with vendors setting up inside of their fire truck parking facility.
“And it’ll be nice and warm in there,” Soliz said. “It’s heated, so everybody can be out of the weather in case it’s raining or snowing or anything.”
Over 15 vendors are expected to be at the event, Soliz said, and he hopes that food trucks will also be available for attendees outside.
At 2 p.m., judging for a chili cook-off will begin at the Whiteface Community Center at 101 East 2nd Street.
The flyer stated $5 entry fees and chili drop-offs for the contest will happen at 1:30 p.m. A first, second and third place chili will be crowned at the event.
A second competition, a gingerbread house decorating contest, will kick off right after for children 13-years-old and under, the flyer previewed. It will be hosted by the City of Whiteface and the judging will start at 3:30 p.m. at the Community Center. The houses should be decorated and dropped off at the Community Center by 3 p.m.
The flyer stated every entry will receive a prize, but certificates will be given to the owners of the first, second and third place gingerbread houses.
The day will continue at 6 p.m. when Santa Claus makes his entrance at the gazebo right across the street, the mayor said. Santa will be available for photos and Whiteface elementary students will be singing for the community around the same time.
At 6:15 p.m., the last previewed event on the flyer – a tree lighting – will be available for the community to see.
Soliz also said during the Christmas event, people can visit the Community Center to sit down at set-up tables and have hot chocolate and cookies.
According to the flyer, the address for the Dec. 14 event is 104 East 2nd Street in Whiteface and entry is free.
Mayor Soliz said it’s the first time the city is holding an event like this and conversations began in July.
“This is the first time we’ve ever done anything like this, this big,” he said, “and we’re hoping to get a good turnout. Wanted to do something nice for our community.”
City employees and administration have been helping with the event and getting the word out, Soliz said.
Outside support from companies and neighboring cities have come in as well, with Levelland donating Christmas light decorations and those being set up in Whiteface by Xcel to “liven up the town and give it the good hometown holiday feel,” he said.
“Everybody’s liking what we’ve been doing, and I think this community deserves that,” Soliz said, “and I think this is gonna be a good tradition going forward.”
Donations have also gone toward a bicycle giveaway for children at the event, he said.
“We hope that any money that we make with this, we’re gonna use it for next year’s events and try to continue this,” Soliz said. “Make it a Whiteface tradition.”
Soliz said as it is the first year, they did not want to make it overwhelming. But they can always add on and ideas can grow.
“So I think we’ve made it the event that we’re gonna be able to really enjoy and have everybody come out, young and old,” Soliz said.
Flyers for the event can be found on the City of Whiteface’s Facebook.