Chamber Christmas Open House Nov 14, anyone know where it's at?

Saw the Greers Ferry Area Chamber is doing a Christmas Open House Saturday Nov 14, 9 to 4. Their site has the date and time but I can't find where it's actually happening, or which shops are in on it.

I've never made it to one of these so I'm kind of guessing how it works. Is it a walk around town and pop into each shop thing, or is it all in one spot? Any door prizes? And does anybody know who's doing the decorating this year?

Mostly I want to start knocking out some Christmas shopping local instead of ordering everything online. Also hoping a restaurant or two is putting out samples, cause I will absolutely plan my day around free food... if anybody's heard who's participating let me know

Chamber office is on Edgemont Rd, and the number is (501) 825-7188 if you want to just call and ask. They're usually pretty good about picking up during the week.

My guess is it's a go-around-and-pop-into-each-shop deal, not one spot, but don't hold me to that. I'd call before the 14th so you're not driving around Heber and Greers Ferry looking for samples. Don't know about door prizes either.

If you hear anything post it here, I'd like to know which shops are in too.

I'd go with Michael on calling. Whenever I've gone to one of these it was spread out, a shop here and a shop there, and the chamber office usually has a sheet of who's participating. I can't say for sure it's the same setup this year, so I wouldn't plan the whole day around my memory.

One more thing. If I have the dates right, modern gun deer season opens that same Saturday, so a good number of the men around here will be in the woods before daylight. That could mean shorter lines and easier parking in the shops. It might also mean some owners are out hunting and not minding the counter, so it's worth confirming who's actually open.

I'd also ask about the door prizes when you call. I don't remember how they were handled before.

Ha, I totally forgot deer season opens that weekend. Honestly the shorter lines might work in my favor, but you're right about the owners. No point driving out to a shop that's closed because the owner's in a stand somewhere.

I'll call the chamber this week and ask about the sheet of participating shops, plus the door prizes. If they say anything useful I'll post it here.

Also if anybody hears of a place doing smoked meat samples that day, please say so. I'll be first in line, and I'll probably have opinions about the bark too.

Ha, bark opinions, now you've got my attention. I run a smoker most weekends so I'll gladly argue about it. Can't promise anybody's doing smoked meat that day, but I'd ask the chamber about that too when you call.

The newer businesses around here usually jump on stuff like this to get their name out, so I'd ask which ones are new on the list this year. Those are the ones I'm curious about, and they're the most likely to be putting out samples. Post what they tell you.

Good call, I'll add "who's new this year" to my list when I call. Never thought of it that way but it makes sense, a new place is gonna put out samples before somebody who's been on the square for 30 years.

What are you running, offset or something pellet? I've been fighting my brisket stall all fall and need somebody to tell me I'm overthinking it. Anyway I'll try the chamber this morning and post whatever they say, even if it's just "no samples."

Good point on opening day, Barbara. Plenty of the shop owners around here hunt, so I'd double check hours instead of trusting 9 to 4. My guess is it's dead early and picks up late morning when guys come out of the woods for breakfast or a gas station coffee run. Afternoon might be the better window for shopping.

Also keep an eye on the forecast that week. Opener weather around here swings from t-shirt warm to freezing rain, and that'll change how many people actually walk around town.

Juan, did you get anybody at the chamber this morning?

Tried a bit ago and it just rang out to voicemail. I left my name and number and asked about the shop list and door prizes. Figure they're either not in yet or tied up on another line, so I'll try again after lunch.

Afternoon sounds right to me. If the shop owners are coming out of the woods mid-morning, I'd rather roll in around 11 or noon anyway. I'll keep an eye on the forecast, but freezing rain would end the walking-around part for me real quick.

You still owe me an answer on offset or pellet, by the way. The stall is driving me nuts.