Free Money At Square Lighting

Jackson Hole residents will have an added reason to celebrate when they go to the town square to ring in the holiday season and light the town next week.  Director of Special Events Maureen Murphy of the Jackson Hole Chamber Of Commerce saysfamilies coming into the square for the event will be given a $25 gift card to spend on the holiday shopping.  Murphy explains that that Director of Visitor Services Rick Howe submitted for a grant from American Express which gives grants to 100 communities across the country $5000 in $25 gift cards to spend.  In order to qualify, the communities must have a “buy local” program in place.  Jackson has had such a program in place for several years now.  The cards will be handed out at the lighting ceremony in hopes people will spend it in town during Small Business Saturday the following day.  Murphy says beginning at 5:00 pm that night, there will be a tent and a table near where the hot cocoa and cookies are distributed where a member of the family can go, register his or her name and claim a gift card.  The Christmas lighting celebration each year takes place the Friday after Thanksgiving with music from the Community Band and Jackson Hole Chorale and a visit from Santa – drawing several hundred people to the square each year.