This November, the City of Great Bend is working with 38 local businesses in launching a marketing campaign revolved around “Exploring Great Bend,” which presents the best of everything the city has to offer. Explore Great Bend month will paint the city in a festive mood with a unique blend of shopping, promotions, entertainment and a $1,000 prize to promote local spending. It’s a winning combination that will help put Great Bend back on the citizen’s map as a place to have fun, shop and experience overall. “Great Bend has an amazing collection of shopping and entertainment, some just forget or have been shy about getting out there and experiencing it” says Christina Hayes, Community Coordinator. “Explore Great Bend month was created to help give incentive for those who haven’t tried out what Great Bend has to offer before they leave town for holiday shopping.”“We are giving a diverse range of retail experiences – from bargains, promotions, sales and special offers. These include only the Saturdays in November (and Black Friday) and the activities and events involved will hopefully draw a crowd. To win the $1,000, or the $250 2nd place prize, anyone can register for free in any of the participating locations; however only on these dates will registration be available. The date details include:November 3rd: Open House & Chili Cookoff!November 10th: Explore Great Bend Day!November 17th: Find the Turkey Discounts!November 23rd: Black Friday! November 24th: Cookie Contest and Home for Holidays Parade!Each individual store and or participating location will put together their own discount or special event. Explore Great Bend has teamed up with the Sunflower Diversified Services Charity Chili Cook-off & the Home for the Holidays Parade, and also Rosewood Services Cookie Contest, to build on the events. We are hoping to make a new tradition for the retail world in Great Bend, to entertain, showcase and feature Great Bend’s opportunities. We encourage everyone to show their support by signing up to win the $1,000 and at least checking out what great things this city has to offer. With “Explore Great Bend Month” the focus is to get into these 38 participating businesses during the registration dates, you don’t even need to be present to win the prize, but you will be missing out on the after - parade fun if you do. These dates will be a big draw for Great Bend and both the City and the stores welcome the challenge of working together and trying something new for the public. -----------------SPECIALS FOR NOVEMBER 23RD:Bauer Computers - Come in and check out the Black Friday deals!Beautiful Beginnings - Free gift with all $100 Brighton or ladies clothing purchasesCompletely Kids - Open from 11-5:30. See facebook.com/completelykids for our Black Friday specials!Cornerstone Interiors - 50% off Thanksgiving Turkey items and/or 20% off storewide (with the exception of Vietri).Dawson Jewelers - Different specials weekly through Christmas. Free layaway and special financing. Trade in an old watch and receive 30% off any new watch!EZ Tan - Tan for free before noon if you purchase any deal. Deals include buy a lotion, get three free tans; free samples; Christmas packages; and 40% off merchandise.Great Bend Floral & Gifts - 20% off cash-and-carry itemsJust Fabulous Darling - Open at midnight with different hourly specials!Kustom Floor Designs - 25% off one regularly priced, in-stock accessory including Christmas items and ornaments are BOGO (valid the 23rd and 24th only).Mainstream Boutique - 20% off one regular price itemMiss Pretty Pickles - 20% off one regular price itemRB Tellers - 20% off one regular price itemRefined Medley - Christmas open house from 10-5:30!Rosewood Gallery - 10% off all horse hair pottery when you find the turkeyWaters True Value - Open at 7 a.m. with Hot Buys listed in the Great Bend Tribune or at www.waterstruevalue.com for discounts!----------------ALL PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES:Bauer Computers, Beautiful Beginnings, Becker Tire, Boone’s Maytag & Appliance, Brown’s Shoes, Completely Kids, Cornerstone Interiors, Dawson Jewelers, EZ Tan, The Gallery, Great Bend Appliance, Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo, Great Bend Floral & Gifts, J&L Coins & Jewelry, Jennifer’s Hallmark, Johnson’s BBQ & Smokehouse, Just Fabulous Darling, KansasLand Tire, Kiowa Kitchen, Kustom Floor Designs, M&F Heating Air Conditioning Plumbing, Mainstream Boutique, Miss Pretty Pickles, Organic Cupboard, P&S Security, Petr’s Framehouse, Playa Azul Restaurant, Rana Luna Boutique, RB Tellers, Refined Medley, Rosewood Gallery, Satellite Pros, Straub International, Stueder Contractors, Inc., The Rack Billiard Café, Tiramisu/High Call Outfitters, Walnut Bowl, Waters True Value, Willy J’s Bar. Date - Nov 23, 2012 Type - Community Event Community - Great Bend Location - Participating Retailers Address - City of Great Bend Contact - Christina Hayes, 620-793-4111 Email - chayes@greatbendks.net