27 Oct 2013 Dazzle Daze brings holiday memories
Dazzle Daze — the words bring forth a variety of holiday images:
Shopping with girlfriends at Girls’ Nite Out.
Posing for photos with “Chicks who Click.”
Grooving to the jazz of Rodney Block and the Real Music Lovers.
Getting your Santa on at a pajama party.
Crossing your fingers and hoping to win the Mustang at the big raffle announcement.
Yes, Dazzle Daze will be back Thursday, Nov. 21, through Saturday, Nov. 23, stirring up holiday memories and creating new ones for the 12th year in a row.
It sold out for merchant space before Oct. 1, and the waiting list of merchants is growing. This year more than 25 new merchants have signed up for Conway’s holiday shopping extravaganza. They are coming to Conway from throughout Arkansas as well as Texas, Mississippi and Tennessee. The farthest home destination is Garden Grove, Calif. In its fourth year at the location, Dazzle Daze has almost outgrown its retail space at the Conway Expo Center and Fairgrounds.
This comes after moving the entertainment areas to the loft that overlooks the floor area to increase shopping space by 3,000 square feet.
“Dazzle Daze is highly sought after,” said Dazzle Daze co-chair Jennifer Hill.
Merchants will bring holiday items for sale including décor, holiday foods, jewelry, children’s items, even collegiate pillows and a variety of other specialty items.
Hill’s advice for those new to Dazzle Daze:
“If you’ve never shopped or visited with us, come prepared with your Christmas shopping list for kids, parents, grandparents or that special someone in your life. We have something for everyone.”
Co-chair Sheryl Sample added, “You are not going to get this variety of shopping experience anywhere. If you are not ready for Christmas shopping, just come shop for yourself. It’s just a fun time.” She has a weakness for the I Love Brownies booth as well as a favorite clothing vendor and Old Mill Bread.
In addition to shopping, Sheryl brings her family to volunteer. “I like talking to the merchants and making sure they have their needs met,” she said.
What’s new in food?
One of Conway’s newest eateries, Taziki’s Mediterranean Grill, will be onsite at the Dazzle Deli. “I’m really excited that they are in Conway,” Hill said. “They are ecstatic about partnering with us this year.”
Another food option on Friday and Saturday is Moo Moo’s soft serve yogurt and topping bar in the Dazzle Deli.
The Dazzle Daze raffle remains a staple of Dazzle Daze. Only 500 tickets are sold for $100, making the odds very good for winning one of five fun prizes.
This year’s prizes include a 2014 Ford Mustang Convertible from Smith Ford, a Yamaha fuelinjected gas-powered golf cart donated by Angela Conrad, Inc., a $3,000 gift certificate for med spa services donated by Conway Women’s MedSpa, a $1,000 furniture gift certificate donated by Cajun Brothers Furniture and a $1,000 fly fishing package for two donated by The Toad Fly.
The announcement of the winners always closes the show on Saturday afternoon.
“Of course, the Mustang is back, but we also have the golf cart,” Hill said. “Not just for the gentlemen in our population, but as a mom I would like to have a golf cart.”
Santa will be back for story time on Friday morning. “We’d love to see some of our preschool age children come and visit Santa,” Hill said. “This is an opportunity for them to get some Santa time.”
Plans are also coming together for a gingerbread “Candy Land” theme that will include a kit that can be purchased for family decorating.
Net proceeds from Dazzle Daze go toward the ONE campaign, which is helping pay for the expansion of the surgery department and obstetrics area at Conway Regional Medical Center, as well as a medical scholarship and a health and fitness center scholarship.
Schedule:
Thursday, Nov. 21
Girls’ Nite Out 6-9 p.m.
Sponsored by Women’s Inc.
“Chicks who Click” Girlfriend Photos
Heavy hors d’oeuvres
Entertainment by Rodney Block and the Real Music Lovers
Special prize drawing at 9 p.m. for gifts from Fletcher
Smith’s Jewelers and Conway Women’s Med Spa
Friday, Nov. 22
General shopping 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Pajama Party with Santa 9 a.m.
Taziki’s in the Dazzle Deli 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus 4-8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23
General shopping 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tazkiki’s in the Dazzle Deli 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Raffle drawing for 2014 Ford Mustang and other
prizes 4 p.m.
Tickets:
Girls’ Nite Out – $25 in advance; $30 at the door
Pajama Party with Santa – $15 per child with adult
General shopping – $5; children under 12 free
Event location
Conway Expo Cen
ter – 2505 E Oak Street (Hwy 64 E), Conway
Girls’ Nite Out special prize drawing
The first 50 shoppers to spend $100 will have an opportunity
to enter a special drawing for a beautiful piece of
jewelry donated by Fletcher Smith’s Jewelers. In addition,
shoppers will receive a door prize entry for every $50
they spend for a chance to win one of two $1,000 gift
certificates for med spa services donated by Conway
Women’s Med Spa.
“Chicks Who Click”
Capture the fun with a girlfriends photo by Donna Evans
Photography. Photo packages beginning at $15 are available
to order.
Dazzle Deli
Open during show hours, shoppers can stop by and purchase
a quick snack, lunch or dinner from Taziki’s.
Santa & Mrs. Claus
Bring the kids to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus at the North
Pole. Professional photo packages are available starting at
$15 by Donna Evans Photography. 4-8 p.m. Friday and 10
a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.
Red, Green & Jeans
Friday, Nov. 22, wear holiday colors red or green along
with jeans at work for a $5 donation to Dazzle Daze.
Register your business or team by emailing womensinc@
womensinc.net.
Pajama Party with Santa
At 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22, kids are invited to wear their pajamas
and listen to stories from Santa, visit with the elves
and have a special photo taken. Limited to 100 tickets.
Tickets are $15 per child with adult and includes general
admission to Dazzle Daze on Friday, free child’s admission,
story time with Santa, one photo and a treat.
Door prizes
For every $50 shoppers spend all weekend long, register
at the door prize booth for lots of great prizes from all the
Dazzle Daze merchants. One door prize entry may be
received by filling out the visitor’s survey. Prize winners will
be drawn all weekend long. You do not need to be present
to win.
Dazzle Daze Raffle
$100 per ticket only 500 tickets sold!
The grand prize is a 2014 Ford Mustang convertible from
Smith Ford. Other raffle prizes include a 2013 Yamaha Golf
Cart donated by Angela Conrad Inc., a $3,000 med spa
gift certificate donated by Conway Women’s Med Spa, a
$1,000 gift certificate donated by Cajun Brothers Furniture
and a $1,000 fly fishing package donated by The Toad Fly.
Tickets may be purchased at any Dazzle Daze ticket outlet.
All proceeds benefit Conway Regional Health Foundation.
Drawing will be held at Dazzle Daze at 4 p.m. Saturday,
Nov. 23, Need not be present to win. Winners responsible
for all applicable taxes. Must be 18 to participate. According
to IRS Publication 526, the amount paid to purchase a
raffle ticket is not deductible as a charitable contribution.
