Hazard Launches Christmas Events, Emphasizes Local Shopping and Community

Downtown Hazard will light its holiday tree on November 18, marking the start of the citys Christmas in a Small Town series of events that will run through December. Organizers say the program will include several musical showings across the season and conclude when Santa visits the Perry County Public Library on December 20. Pink Weekend, scheduled for November 21 and 22, is explicitly aimed at encouraging residents to shop locally instead of at larger company stores.

The schedule is modest in scale but important in timing for local merchants. Seasonal events tend to concentrate shopper traffic into downtown cores, which can translate into measurable uplifts in retail receipts for small independent businesses. For Perry County retailers that operate on thin margins, the three weeks of holiday programming can represent a significant share of annual sales and provide vital cash flow heading into the new year.

Hazard city manager Tony Eversole framed the series as both a community celebration and an economic nudge for local commerce. “It’s something big. It’s a good kick-off for the season. We’ve got pink weekend and all that coming up too. Christmas in a small town hopefully it’ll be bigger this year than it was before,” he said. The citys involvement signals a coordinated approach that combines promotion, public safety planning, and the use of public spaces to support private businesses.

Beyond direct sales, the events matter for Perry Countys longer term economic resilience. Downtown gatherings help sustain foot traffic, which supports restaurants and service businesses and can make the area more attractive for new entrepreneurs considering opening a shop. They also create informal marketing channels for local firms through word of mouth and social media coverage of events.

There are budget and logistical considerations for municipal leaders. Public safety staffing, street maintenance, and coordination with the library and business owners require municipal resources and planning. Local officials must balance those expenses against the anticipated economic benefits and community value of civic ritual.

For residents, the sequence of events offers social and cultural benefits as well as economic ones. The tree lighting and musical performances provide low cost opportunities for families, while Pink Weekend offers a practical reason to direct holiday dollars locally. As consumer behavior continues to evolve and online and big box retail remain dominant, community led events like Hazards offer a policy relevant lever for local officials trying to keep commerce rooted in town.