BELLE FOURCHE—For the past several years the Grant Street businesses have come together to host a Block Party for the holiday season. This year it was the biggest block celebration yet with eight businesses participating. It was held on the evening of December 4.
The Jingle and Mingle Holiday Open House Block Party started five years ago with just two businesses coming together to celebrate the holiday season. “The first year we did it, it was us and Weather Hat,” explained Michelle Watson, Keller Williams Realty Black Hills. “We have grown—the law office is here this year, and then Andrea Fayville around the corner is participating. So it has grown and it’s a fun event!”
Jack and Jennifer Scholl, Weather Hat Company, were one of the first two businesses to participate in the Grant Street Block Party. “Because we are on this block Michelle asked if we wanted to do something, and so one of the first years we did it she set up a tent in front of the store, and she had s’mores, and we had food, and it was beautiful outside,” she explained.
All of the participating businesses stayed open late and invited the community to come in for fancy treats and festive drinks. There was everything from fresh sourdough bread, mac and cheese, meatballs, wraps, charcuterie, cookies to hot cocoa, spiced cider, spiked grapes and so much more.
The businesses were so generous in their offerings one couldn’t leave the Block Party hungry! They all wanted to let the Belle area folks know they were appreciated. Jennifer said, “We want them to know we always appreciate the people in our community!”
It was also an opportunity for people to come together and form community connections, a chance to sit down, snack and visit with neighbors and friends all while celebrating the season.
Watson was happy with the turnout. She says they start planning for the event in July. “We started talking about it in July and August to say, hey, let’s do this! We’ve always stuck with the first Thursday of December and now I just let everybody up and down the street know,” she shared. “I say let me know because for our real estate office, we send postcards to our clients and we’ll put everybody’s names on the advertisements so that people know. We do postcards and a Facebook event and call people.”
Those that participated this year include Keller Williams Realty, Life Light Creative, Weather Hat Company, Anke’s Bakery, Belle Fourche Chamber, Rhonda Miller Law Office, Globe Life—the Fayville Agency and 2F Custom Grinding. “I just think it’s a really good way for people to get out this time of year and just go from place to place and have fun,” added Watson.
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