Chamber Celebrations Boost Holiday Commerce and Community Participation
The Springerville Eagar Regional Chamber of Commerce organized a series of holiday events this week, including a Santa visit on December 5, a call for volunteers to decorate the Springerville Heritage Museum, and an upcoming DJ's Holiday Market at American Legion Post 30. These activities bring seasonal foot traffic to multiple towns, connect volunteers and small businesses with municipal and nonprofit resources, and underscore the role of local institutions in strengthening the county economy.
The Springerville Eagar Regional Chamber of Commerce convened community activities this holiday week that combined family outreach, volunteer recruitment, and small business support. A special Santa visit took place on Friday December 5 at the Chamber office, offering families an opportunity for photos and refreshments between noon and 1:30 p.m. Organizers say the event was intended to draw residents into downtown and support nearby merchants during a critical retail season.
The Chamber also issued a call for volunteers to assist with seasonal decorating at the Springerville Heritage Museum. Residents willing to help may contact the museum at 928 333 2656 ext. 230 or by email at kprather@springervilleaz.gov. The volunteer push reflects a reliance on civic participation to maintain public heritage sites and enhance visitor experience during peak tourism weeks.
Looking ahead, the DJ's Holiday Market is scheduled for Friday and Saturday December 12 and 13 at American Legion Post 30. Market hours will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with vendor set up beginning at 8:30 a.m. Vendor fee and registration details are available through chamber registration channels. The market is framed as both a holiday shopping opportunity and a platform for local entrepreneurs to reach consumers across the region.
The chamber also promoted a no cost business class series offered through NPC, the Town of Eagar and the Small Business Development Center. Lunch for the sessions is sponsored by SRP and TEP, and residents were provided with registration instructions to participate. The chamber maintains local business resources and serves as a regional calendar for Alpine, Concho, Eagar, Greer, Nutrioso, Springerville, St. Johns and Vernon, and it listed Arizona @ Work contact information for Apache County business services.
For Apache County residents, these events matter beyond seasonal cheer. They create concentrated opportunities for commerce, volunteer engagement, and workforce development while illustrating how municipal partnerships and utility sponsored programs can lower barriers for small business training. Tracking participation, vendor outcomes and volunteer turnout will help local leaders assess whether such community driven initiatives produce lasting economic benefits for the county.
