New ideas for ‘Holly Daze’ sought

Bigger and better.
That’s what the Emo Chamber of Commerce hopes this year’s “Holly Daze” will be.
After a summer break, the group met last week to brainstorm ideas to improve the annual event, scheduled for Dec. 1-2 this year.
“We’re going to see if we can get a fun curling bonspiel going for one of the days,” Chamber president, Colleen Vennechenko noted. “We’d like to try to get some new people out to curl.”
While no concrete plans have been made yet, she stressed there wouldn’t be a fee to participate.
“We thought it would be a good idea to get curlers out there,” Vennechenko said.
She added it also was suggested they have a “Holly Daze” parade, which could include local businesses, churches, and clubs.
“Last year it was brought to our attention, as well, that some people thought a parade would be really good,” Vennechenko noted.
“But you have to have 100 percent commitment, so hopefully by the next meeting we will see whether or not people will be committed.”
Another idea brought forward at last week’s meeting was to have an ice sculpture contest or a snowman-building challenge to see if possibly 500 snowmen can be built in the village.
“We just want to get the community behind us and everybody involved,” Vennechenko stressed, adding children would be able to participate by building snowmen, as well as teenagers and adults.
“We want to try some different things this year,” she added.
The Emo Chamber would like to have the rink put in at the tennis courts again, but perhaps use it during “Holly Daze” for a hockey skills competition.
“Maybe people who don’t like curl could do that,” she proposed, noting they are just trying to get a little more involvement.
“We’re looking for ideas—the more ideas we can get, the better,” she continued. “It would be nice to do something unique.”
Vennechenko said since there are a lot of young families in the Emo area, she would like to try to get them involved.
“You know, we could maybe give a prize for whoever has the most snowmen in their yard or something,” she remarked. “It might not be much, but it might get some people participating.”
But with all these ideas being tossed around, Vennechenko noted one thing is paramount—they hope there is snow.
“I guess that would be the major thing,” she said. “You never know.”
The annual festivities will, of course, retain some of its usual events, such as hay rides, sales, a draw for “Holly Daze” bucks, and fireworks.
Vennechenko said the Chamber would like to see the fireworks begin at 5 p.m., instead of 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m.
“We’d like to have them earlier so people would stay in town to see them,” she noted. “It’s dark enough by that time anyway.”
Anyone with any other ideas for events during “Holly Days” is asked to contact Vennechenko at The Corner Closet.
The Chamber’s next meeting will be held Monday, Oct. 16 beginning at 7 p.m. at Northridge Funeral Home.