By Bridget Bauer
Entergy has put the skids on Bryant’s Christmas decorating. Now, the city and Chamber of Commerce are asking businesses to help Bryant look festive for Christmas.
In years’ past, the Bryant Chamber of Commerce and City of Bryant joined forces and decorated for Christmas for several years. With the help of Entergy, they hung eight-foot banners down Highway 5 and Reynolds Road. While they were grateful for Entergy’s cooperation, the tradition has now been halted.
“We’ve known for years this was coming,” Rae Ann Fields, executive director of the Bryant Chamber of Commerce said. “Entergy kept saying to quit doing this because it was a company policy to not hang anything from its poles. Finally, they told us to stop. I’m a little disappointed because we’ve done this for several years and don’t have a backup plan.”
Fields hopes to one day find a place to hang the banners and also wishes to keep them all together because of the grand impression they make. In the meantime, she is asking the businesses of Bryant to help decorate the city for Christmas. As an incentive, the Chamber is providing a prize for the best-decorated business. The Christmas Committee will pick one winner with that business receiving $100 to spend at any other Chamber-member business.
“It can be lit or unlit,” Fields said. “We will just be looking for the best. Many years ago, we did something like this, and it is always enjoyable.”
Two businesses are giving discounts if a business mentions it is decorating for the contest. B.Devine Exterior is offering a 20 percent discount while Flowers and Home is giving a 25 percent discount.
If a business wants to be considered in the decorating contest, it needs to contact the Chamber at 847-4702 or e-mail raeann@bryantchamber.com. One other important reminder is the Christmas parade is Dec. 3.
