Get ready to party… and shop

Kelly Sigg has but one hope for participants in Friday’s annual Downtown Christmas Block Party in Iola. Well, maybe, two.

“I just want everybody to eat, drink and be merry — and hopefully do a little shopping,” she laughed.

Sigg is the owner of Iola’s Audacious Boutique, one of the 25 participating businesses in this year’s block party, which runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday in downtown Iola.

In addition to a night of shopping revelry, one lucky participant will get quite a $500 holiday boost.

Here’s how:

Visitors to any of participating businesses will be given a punch card to fill out by visiting the other 25 shops or stations.

Those who get all 25 places marked off their cards are eligible for the grand prize drawing, totaling $520 in prizes. Most are in the form of gift certificates, while others will hand out Chamber Bucks, or in the case of Russell Stover Candies, a gift basket.

“It doesn’t matter where you start, or where you end,” Sigg said. “You don’t have to follow a certain route. And you don’t need to buy anything. You just need to stop by each of the businesses.”

In addition, carolers will be roaming the street to serenade shoppers and merchants alike with Christmas music. Thrive Allen County is sponsoring carriage rides around the square, and Audacious Boutique has arranged for Santa to meander among the crowds. On top of that, a karaoke machine will be set up in the pocket park next to Thrive on South Jefferson Avenue for anyone to provide vocals to a number of Christmas music standards.

THE BLOCK party has evolved from a simple event focused on a handful of merchants to one involving a number of other businesses.

For example, Farm Bureau Insurance and Deer Creek Realty can’t realistically give out a gift certificate for an insurance policy, but they can offer up Chamber Bucks, Sigg noted.

And while G&W Foods isn’t considered a part of the downtown shopping district, the grocery store wanted to donate to the event as well. Terry Sparks State Farm Insurance also is donating, Sigg said.

Two local restaurateurs, Dudley’s Done Right BBQ and Rookie’s Bar and Grill, will serve up food specials for the evening. (Dudley’s will have a tent). Even the Allen County Farmers Market is involved, setting up shop inside Southwind Cycle and Outdoor. Russell Stover and A Bushel and Peck Graphics, meanwhile, will be stationed in the Thrive office.

“We started with only merchants, but as the number of merchants goes down, we’ve had all these other businesses come forward and say they wanted to be a part of it,” Sigg said. “It’s been wonderful.

“We’re not telling anybody they have to do any kind of discounts or refreshments, but most of the businesses are, anyway,” she continued.

THE PARTICIPATING businesses: Audacious Boutique, Southwind Cycle and Outdoor, Allen County Farmers Market, Deja Nu Consignment, Salon Nyne, Second Chance Thrive Store, Town Square Tannery, Around the Corner Coffee Shop, Three Generations, Country Traditions, Capper Jewelry, Jones Jewelry, Duane’s Flowers, Sophisticated Rose and Sophisticated Rose Plus, Iola Pharmacy, Decorator Supply, Farm Bureau Insurance/Deer Creek Realty, G&W Foods, Terry Sparks State Farm, Rookie’s, Russell Stover, A Bushel and a Peck, Dudley’s Done Right BBQ and Thrive Allen County.

All but a handful of the businesses are along the downtown portions of Jefferson, Madison and Washington avenues, or in the second of Second Chance, just off the square on South Street.