Custer County gears up for Christmas events

Its time to get into the holiday spirit because a variety of Christmas events are set to return to Custer in the coming weeks, along with some new events in Hermosa.
The fun begins Dec. 7 with several events to help ring in the festive season.
The candy cane hunt will be at 9:30 a.m. at the Custer Elementary School playground, and is open to children up to 11 years old.
From 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. is the 1881 Courthouse Museum Holiday Open House, which will offer free admission to the museum during the event. Visitors can enjoy the festively-decorated building and exhibits as well as refreshments in the courthouse. The museum bookstore will also be open for business.
The 35th annual Custer Christmas Parade is the same day, and will begin at 5:30 p.m., starting at 8th Street and heading west along Mt. Rushmore Road to Fourth Street. Following the parade, the lighting of the Juanita Fish Memorial Tree will take place at Way Park.
From Dec. 7-13, people can participate in a Christmas scavenger hunt at several local participating businesses. Pick up your card at the Santa’s Village Craft Fair Dec. 7 at Custer High School and bring it back to the Chamber of Commerce by Friday Dec. 13 to be entered in a drawing for a fun prize.
In Custer and Hill City, people can visit participating businesses to enter in community Christmas cash drawings. The first drawing will be on Friday, Dec. 6, and then there will be two more Dec. 13 and Dec. 20.
Once again, the Custer County Chronicle and Custer Area Chamber of Commerce are teaming up for the annual exterior Christmas decorating contest. Awards will be given to the top three place winners, which can be submitted to the Chronicle until 5 p.m. Dec. 20.
To enter the contest  send a photo of the exterior of your home or business to custernews@gwtc.net or through the Custer County Chronicle Facebook page. To submit a property not your own, be sure to get the permission of the property owner. Winners will be announced in the Jan. 1 issue of the Chronicle and on the chamber’s social media pages.
The Custer Senior Center will have its annual cookie and candy walk Dec. 6 from 8 a.m. to noon and will offer homemade holiday treats for sale. The senior center will also hold its annual open house the next day, Dec. 7, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., featuring free local entertainment and refreshments. At 2 p.m., the Sandstone Singers will perform, and local artist Isa Kirk will have a one-day only display of her artwork.
Custer Lutheran Fellowship will have its Community Advent Christmas Concert  Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.
The annual Christmas Tea event will take place Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. at Custer Community Church. There will be instrumental and vocal music by musicians from Custer and Hot Springs, as well as a pair of featured speakers. Duane Martinz will “Bring the Joy,” while Ruth Birrell will discuss “A Christmas Memory.”
Tea and cookies will follow, and everyone is welcome.
Dec. 13, the Custer County Library will have a day of holiday fun for children and their families. At 10 a.m., meet at the library to walk or arrive at the back door of the 1881 Courthouse Museum for an old-fashioned holiday storytime. Following the storytime, people can meet up back at the library for its Winter Open House from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. People are encouraged to stop by for seasons greetings, a gift basket drawing and warm treats in observance of National Hot Chocolate Day.
On Dec. 18, the library’s Vinyl Record Club will have its Jingle Jams Holiday Party at 5:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring holiday music to share with the group and wear their holiday sweaters. If you’d like to participate in a white elephant gift exchange, wrap up an old album to bring with. Appetizers and door prizes will be provided.
The 32nd annual Christmas for Kids event will take place at Custer Jr./Sr. High School, Saturday Dec. 14 from noon to 3 p.m. Children and parents can enjoy a lunch, holiday games and crafts, as well we a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
All children in Custer County ages 0-10 are welcome to attend the free event but must be registered by emailing custerchrist
mas4kids@gmail.com. Registration takes place  until Dec. 7 and a reply email will confirm your registration. If you would like to donate to the event to assist with toy purchases or have any questions, contact Corey or Jana Virtue at custerchristmas4kids@gmail.com or 605-673-2396.
In Hermosa on Dec. 14 there will be a full schedule of Christmas fun to benefit the Hermosa School. The activities start at 2 p.m. with ice skating at the baseball fields (skates are not provided). Then, at the fairgrounds from 3-5 p.m., kids can enjoy meeting Santa, hay rides and a chili cookoff. From 5-5:30 p.m., cookies and hot chocolate will be offered at the town office and post office, which people can enjoy until the Christmas tree lighting at the same location and a Christmas parade at 6 p.m..
Hermosa will also host its second annual home decorating contest. Anyone with a 57744 zip code is eligible to participate and compete for cash prizes for the first three place winners. If interested, email austinrylee1001@yahoo.com. Judging will take place Dec. 20-22 and lights must be on from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
In Argyle, at the Argyle Volunteer Fire Department on 12000 Mountain Lion Lane, there will be a Christmas Marketplace Pop-up featuring handmade gifts galore. The event takes place Dec. 14-15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days.