The New London Area Chamber of Commerce is busy planning for the 2014 Holiday of Wonder celebration.

Holiday of Wonder Parade 

The weekend kicks off with the Holiday parade on Friday, Dec. 5th.  The parade will be a night-time, lighted holiday parade and is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.  The holiday parade is an opportunity for local businesses, schools, and organizations to show their holiday spirit. So far, this year's parade will feature the New London High School Marching Band, Little Wolf High School Band, dozens of businesses and organizations, as well as Santa and Mrs. Claus.  Parade entries are being accepted at this time.

Reindeer Run - New London Parks and Recreation Department

Join the New London Parks and Recreation Department for the Reindeer Run on Friday, Dec. 5th at 5:30 p.m.  This is a one (1) mile fun walk / run that starts at the Washington Center Gym.

- Click here for information and to register for the Reindeer Run 

Gingerbread House Contest  

In addition, the weekend includes a Gingerbread House contest.  The entries will again be on display at Custom Carpets by Gordy Ltd. from Thursday, Dec. 4th through Friday, December 19th.

Holiday of Wonder Poster

- Click here for the event poster listing all the weekend activities   

During this holiday weekend, be sure to enjoy the...

• Reindeer Walk / Run  
• Kid's Holiday Dance 
• View the gingerbread house creations
• Observe the live Nativity
• Watch the Holiday of Wonder parade (with Santa and Mrs. Claus)
• Have the kids photo taken with Santa
• Enjoy horse drawn wagon rides

We are busy finalizing the event details and will bring them to you as soon as all dates, times and locations are set.

2014 Holiday Dance  

After the Holiday parade on Friday, December 5^th, warm up by joining us for the 3^rd Annual Holiday Dance Party from 6:30 - 8 p.m. in the Wolf River Plaza (Ignite Cheer Team Facility).

James Kelley, Yo DJ Entertainment will be playing all of your "family friendly" favorites. Get your feet moving to holiday classics like Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and today's popular tunes.

Everyone is invited to come inside after the parade, socialize and enjoy the sounds and lights from a local entertainment company.

City Council just passed an ordinance to increase parking tickets as follows: $15 for all parking tickets except for Handicap and Winter Ordinance Violations which are $25.

If tickets are not paid within 30 days the fine goes up to $50 and your license plates will be suspended.

Small Business Saturday (SBS), a shop local incentive supported and advertised by American Express and held on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, has become the latest way to show support for small, independently owned and operated businesses across the country. 

New London Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Laurie Shaw loves the idea of promoting small businesses in this way.  

"Small Business Saturday is a wonderful way to promote our Main Street businesses. Everyone comes out ahead when consumers shop locally: the merchants, for certain and that keeps our Main Streets thriving but shopping locally also increasing our sales tax revenues which in turn helps to lower our property taxes," she said.  

Click here for additional information on Small Business Saturday 

To find out which small businesses in New London are participating in SBS and to see a map and list of the small business names, visit www.ShopSmall.com. Businesses interested in participating in the campaign can also sign up and get FREE promotional materials.

Join the 2014 New London Jaycees

Holiday Lighting & Decoration Contest

REGISTER BEFORE DECEMBER 2^nd

PUBLIC Viewing & Voting 

December 5^th - December 16^th

Click here for online registration, maps, and voting forms 

Printed Maps of participating locations and voting ballots

will be available at:

Santa Land on Friday and Saturday

December 5 and 6, 2014

On Saturday, Dec. 6^th, there will be a combination Pearl Harbor Day observance and Christmas party for American Legion, DAV, AmVets, VFW and Auxiliaries at the VFW Clubhouse, located at the corner of Beckert Rd. and Division St.  Social hour will be held from 5 - 6 p.m., with a potluck from 6 - 7 p.m., entertainment will follow.  Please bring wrapped $1 bingo prize to share.  For additional information or to RSVP contact Lewis E. Strite at  (920) 982-4396.

The New London Area Chamber of Commerce is putting action behind the importance of supporting the businesses that support our communities. We are working to spread the message that residents should support our businesses by shopping in the New London community. Maintaining a strong local economy keeps our community members employed and able to raise their families. Buying locally made products is also a great way to conserve energy, cut shipping costs for producers and save gas for buyers.

When a New London resident travels to another area (including non-local or on line retailers) to shop, they are creating what we in economic development call "leakage." That refers to consumer spending that occurs outside of our market. The problem with leakage is that once the dollars have left our area they are gone for good. They cannot be used to pay taxes, rent, payroll, supplies, gas, utilities or make donations etc. which means the dollars cannot circulate in our community. It is highly unlikely that a store in Appleton, Milwaukee, Madison, at the Mall of America, or an online retailer such as Amazon is ever going to donate money back to our community. We hope that savvy shoppers will realize that traveling a distance on the road or online to get a "bargain" is not in the best interest of our local businesses and our community.

In efforts to promote shopping locally, the New London Area Chamber of Commerce is initiating the "New London Area Chamber of Commerce Shop Local Stimulus Package." Beginning November 14, 2014 our stimulus package will allow you to grow your investment in the community 10% while transforming your cash into "Chamber Bucks."

What exactly are Chamber Bucks? They are certificates / checks that can be redeemed at a Chamber members' business for services and / or merchandise - basically a community gift certificate. You can view a list of over 100 businesses that accept Chamber Bucks on the Chamber of Commerce's website www.NewLondonChamber.com . Go to the "Membership" tab, select "Chamber bucks - Community Gift Certificates and look under "Where do I redeem Chamber Bucks".

If you want to support the community and participate in our stimulus program you simply need to purchase Chamber Bucks with cash (we will not be able to accept checks, credit or debit cards for this program) and "grow" your community investment by 10%. For example, if you would bring in $100 in cash to purchase Chamber Bucks you would receive $110 in Chamber Bucks. To make funds available to as many people as possible an individual benefit cap of $50 has been set. Chamber Bucks for this program will be available in $25 increments with a $25 minimum purchase.

How can you purchase Chamber Bucks? They can be purchased at the New London Area Chamber of Commerce office, which is located at 420 N. Shawano St. Our office hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In addition to walking in and requesting Chamber Bucks you can call (920) 982-5822, fax (920) 982-6344, or e-mail a request to  [email protected] and we will have them ready for your pickup.

The Chamber staff, board of directors, ambassadors and Wisconsin Distributors would like to invite our Chamber members and their employees to our 3^rd Annual Holiday Party. 

This is an opportunity for our members to check out our facility while visiting and networking with each other.

We will be serving beverages courtesy of Wisconsin Distributors and snacks made by the Chamber staff, board of directors and ambassadors.  Spend an evening with us in a Holiday Wonderland created by The Lily Pad that is sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit. Enjoy casual conversation while listening to holiday favorites provided by Yo DJ Entertainment - James Kelley.

Please mark your calendars for this fun holiday get together.  If you have any food or drink you'd like to contribute please let us know.

An RSVP is not required but is appreciated to insure we provide enough food and drinks.  You can call us at (920) 982-5822 or e-mail [email protected].

The New London Fish and Game Club has pheasant hunting permits available. For additional information call Dale Sternhagen at (920) 779-6346 or (920) 209-0486.

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