The crowds of shoppers at the fifth annual Festus Main Street Adult Stocking Stroll pleased store owners, organizers said.
Melody Yesberg, a member of the organizing committee and owner of Celebrations Unlimited in Festus, said the Nov. 29 event drew impressive numbers despite some factors working against it.
“Approximately 200 attended,” Yesberg said. “It was hampered by weather and having two local football teams playing (in the state football playoffs) that weekend.
“We still had good crowds even though the weather did not help us. We see a lot of the same groups over and over. Friends and family groups get together and come down.”
Organizers bill the event as a kickoff to the Christmas season offering shopping, treats and raffles. Stores that do not normally operating on Saturdays were open, Yesberg said.
A raffle associated with the Adult Stocking Stroll involved shoppers picking up game cards and obtaining stickers from participating businesses. Those with completed game cards turned them in for chances to win prizes.
For the first time, a separate raffle was offered for those who spent at least $10 at any participating business.
All of the drawings took place Dec. 3, Yesberg said.
The winners of the sticker game were Daniel Sells of Festus, Chrissee Dunavant of Hillsboro and Brookelyn Friedmeyer of Crystal City. Each received $200 in gift cards from Festus Main Street Association merchants.
The grand prize of $500 in gift cards from Festus Main Street Association merchants went to Jessica Jordan of Bloomsdale.
Other prizes for the Window Decorating Contest went to: Farmhouse Style for the Judge’s Choice for Best Decorated Christmas Window and to Pearly Pie for the People’s Choice Award for Best Decorated Christmas Window.
Yesberg said she sees the Adult Stocking Stroll as an entrenched event in the community.
“It is a yearly event now,” she said. “We will have it again next year.”
The Festus Main Street Association, Festus Tourism Commission and APB Storage team sponsored the Adult Stocking Stroll.
St. Pius X and Festus both played in state semifinal football games the weekend of the Adult Stocking Stroll, with St. Pius winning to advance to the Class 2 championship game and Festus losing its Class 4A semifinal game to end its season.