NIOBRARA COUNTY - The Christmas spirit will be felt all throughout the town of Lusk in December. Several family-friendly events are slated to mark the beginning of the holidays this Friday. Other similar events are scheduled all month long.

The Lusk DOES Drove #64 will kick off the Holiday Season by allowing locals to show off their Christmas trees. Leafy limbs adorned by dazzling lights will be on display at the DOES’ Christmas tree contest and auction on December 6. The branches and bulbs go up at the Lusk Elks Lodge at 7 p.m. There will be a soup dinner at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 a person.

The Niobrara Homemakers Christmas Bazaar will be held on the same evening, December 6, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds. There will be chili and soup to warm wintry attendees.

December 7 will be another busy day for the community. The Niobrara Homemakers Christmas Bazaar will continue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds. There will be a baked potato bar in the dining room.

Meanwhile, Lusk ROCS will have their sixth annual “A ‘Chili’ Night in Wyoming.” Tickets are priced at $5 for chili tasting and $5 for two hotdogs and chips. Chili tasting and hotdogs will be available from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. This will be held between Hiway Brake Alignment and Lickety Stitch on 2^nd Street.

The lineup for the Christmas parade will be at the Blue Building at 5:45 p.m. A tree lighting on Main Street will follow the parade. There will also be roasting and toasting of marshmallows. The crescendo will come with a cameo by Santa at Lickety Stitch.

For those who would like to compete the chili contest, it is free to enter. Prospective participants can sign up at Bloomers. The winners of the chili contest will be announced during the tree lighting ceremony.

For more information about the Lusk ROCS chili contest and the night’s festivities, see their Facebook page.

On December 11 Lusk State Bank will have a Christmas Open House from 1 to 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy refreshments.