Osage City’s Christmas opener is Saturday, and themed as Old Fashion Christmas on Market, will include a day full of activities, concluding with lighting the downtown’s decorations and a lighted Christmas parade at 6:30 p.m.

During this year’s event, the Osage City Chamber will be sponsoring a retail shopping game that awards prizes based on poker hands. Poker Shopping players must register between 9:15 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. at the Osage County Senior Center, 604 Market St., and must be 18 years of age with valid identification. After registering, players have until 4:15-4:45 p.m. to check in at the senior center with their poker hand. No purchase is necessary, but players must visit five participating retail businesses to pick up an envelope with a card sealed inside. The winner of Poker Shopping will be determined after check out has closed at 4:45. Winners will be determined according to Five Card Stud Poker rules. Chamber Bucks, which can be used like cash at Osage City businesses, will be awarded for first, second and third places. For more information, contact Robyn Williams, of Edward Jones, at 785-528-8177.

The day’s activities get under way with the Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast at the Osage County Senior Center at 7 a.m. After breakfast will be the Jingle Bell Run 5K, with the starting line at Landmark National Bank. The 5K walk or jog will benefit the Warmth Fund, ECAT, ECKAN and the Osage City Area Chamber of Commerce. The participant who has the best Christmas costume or ugliest Christmas sweater will win a prize. For information about the Jingle Bell Run 5K, call or text Jodi Stark at 785-528-5141.

Other activities during the day include: Table settings display, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Osage County Senior Center, sponsored by the Osage City Friends of Library; centerpieces, wreaths and trees display, 9 a.m-5 p.m., also at the senior center, sponsored by Osage City Pride; craft show, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Osage City High School cafeteria and gym, contact Janet Bosworth at 785-554-5039 to register; at 1 p.m. will be Christmas story time at the Osage City Public Library.

To kids’ delight, Santa Claus will visit the Osage City Elementary School cafeteria 2-4 p.m. At the same time and place will be gingerbread building fun, hosted by the Osage City PTA and Saucy Lady BBQ.

If it’s a cold day, a hot bowl of chili might warm everyone up before watching the parade, with a chili cook-off beginning at 4 p.m. at the senior center. All are invited to the chili feed served up by the contestants beginning at 4:30 p.m. For more information about the cook-off, contact Corey Linton, Osage City Parks and Recreation, at 785-528-4610 or rec@osagecity.com.

At 4:45 p.m., the raffle drawing for prizes will be held at the senior center. Tickets will be available on Saturday at the pancake breakfast and the craft show. Tickets are also available prior to the weekend at a number of local businesses, including First National Bank of Kansas, Gibson’s Pharmacy, Bank of Osage City, Schroeder Drug Store, Ramblin’ Rose, Casey’s General Store and Landmark National Bank. Grand prizes include a $250 grocery shopping spree and $250 worth of gasoline. Many other prizes have been donated by area businesses.

Here’s the most current schedule of Saturday’s activities:

• 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Kiwanis pancake breakfast, Osage County Senior Center.
• 8:30 a.m. – Jingle Bell Run 5K, start at Landmark National Bank. To register for the race, contact Jodi Stark at 785-528-5141.
• 8 a.m.-3 p.m. – Table settings display, Osage County Senior Center. Sponsored by the Osage City Friends of the Library.
• 9 a.m.-5 p.m. – Centerpieces, wreaths and trees, Osage County Senior Center. Sponsored by Osage City Pride.
• 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m. – Retail Poker, Osage County Senior Center. For details, contact Robyn Williams at 785-528-8177.
• 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Craft show, Osage City High School cafeteria and gym. To register for space, contact Janet Bosworth at 785-554-5039.
• 1 p.m.-1:30 p.m. – Christmas Story Time, Osage City Public Library, 515 Main St.
• 2 p.m.-4 p.m. – Gingerbread building and Santa Claus, Osage City Elementary School cafeteria.Sponsored by Osage City PTA and Saucy Lady BBQ.
• 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.– Chili cook-off, Osage County Senior Center. For more information, contact Corey Linton, Osage City Parks & Recreation, at 785-528-4610 or rec@osagecity.com, Chili feed begins at 4:30 p.m.
• 4:45 p.m. – Raffle prize drawing, Osage County Senior Center.
• 6:30 p.m. – Parade and lighting downtown decorations on Market Street. To register a parade entry, email osagecitychamber@gmail.com.