The Crookston Area Chamber and Visitor’s Bureau has put together a week of activities called “It’s a Beautiful Week in our Neighborhood” for Sunday, January 26 through Friday, January 31. The themes are kindness and the color red, all week long. The chamber encourages businesses to join in the fun and decorate their windows with red to signify kindness matters.
Crookston Chamber Executive Director Terri Heggie said the theme is a spinoff of Mr. Rogers’ “It’s a beautiful day in neighborhood” and the chamber wants to keep the momentum going from the great turnout for Channel Your Flannel in November. “We had so much fun with Channel Your Flannel and it really increased the foot traffic downtown during the holiday season,” said Heggie. “Retailers reported that it brought in some extra shoppers because of the fun generated around that theme. We want to keep that going. We’re calling it – It’s a Beautiful Week in our Neighborhood – and yes, it is a spinoff of ‘It’s a beautiful day in our neighborhood’ as many of us grew up with Mr. Rogers. We know that theme of kindness the message he shares so we’re playing off of that this whole week.”
There are events, goals or messages to be shared each day throughout the week. Those include doing a kind gesture, showing appreciation from someone, a message on community kindness from author and former Crookston resident Tim Madigan. Heggie said Wednesday will include fires downtown, and Friday everyone is asked to wear red and post pictures to the Chamber’s Facebook page. “Something we’re going to bring back that people have brought up they miss is the evening with firepits downtown,” said Heggie. “We’re going to have chocolate, roast marshmallows, and that’s going to be in the town square on Wednesday. The stores will also be open until 7:00 p.m. that night so you can do some shopping after work and come warm up by the fires. And then Friday is wear red day. We want everybody out there to wear red and show their love for kindness. Have fun with it, post your pictures to our Chamber Facebook page as you did with Channel Your Flannel. Names will be entered for a swag item which will have our brand-new Chamber logo. This logo is going to be revealed to the community on at our board meeting on Thursday, January 16 at 7:30 a.m. Board members will be hashtagging that out there, so watch for that as well.”
SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK
Sunday, January 26
Begin the week by doing one kind gesture for someone.
Monday, January 27
Crookston Downtown Development Partnership photo contest continues. Post a picture of your favorite downtown building to their Facebook with a few words of why you enjoy this building. All entries will have their chance at winning Chamber Bucks with the drawing will be held on January 31.
Storytime at the Crookston Public Library, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. join in the kindness theme and enjoy Storytime with Mr. Rogers, aka Pastor Bill. Episodes of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood will be shown.
Tuesday, January 28
Text, email, phone or handshake day! Let someone know how much you appreciate them. An employee, friend, neighbor, boss, partner, child, teacher, law enforcement, business owner, mailman, City worker, City Councilman, County Commissioners. The appreciation list is long.
Wednesday, January 29
Shop local and shop late! Several retailers will kindly be open until 7:00 p.m. offering some pretty sweet deals too. Feel the warmth of the fire in Downtown Square from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Roast marshmallows, listen to music, and have a cup of “kindness” aka hot chocolate.
Thursday, January 30
Dine local! Invite someone out to dine at one of our many delicious eating establishments in Crookston.
Friday, January 31
Wear Red Day. Show your love for kindness by wearing red. Post your pictures to the Chamber Facebook Page for a “swag” item with the Chambers’ new logo. Drawing will be held on Monday, February 3. Trey Everett will reveal a new snow sculpture at UMC. Winner of the Downtown Crookston Development Partnership photo entry winner announced. UMC staff will be in the elementary schools reading and presenting on kindness.
OTHER ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
- Polk County Public Health with share information on kindness and wellbeing.
- Author and former Crookston resident Tim Madigan will be sending the Chamber a brief article during week supporting these community kindness efforts.
- Villa St. Vincent “kindness wall” is displayed. Catch someone being kind and place their name and kind message on the wall.
- Crookston Chamber will be handing out red shopping bags to retailers to use during the week.
