Muskogee merchants again are giving out those little tickets geared to making some people’s holidays extra happy.

The annual Magic Holiday Giveaway, which gives Muskogee shoppers a chance to win a $10,000 cash prize, has begun and sponsors expect it to be bigger than ever.

“We have more tickets, more money and more ways to win money,” said Sue Harris, president and CEO of the Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce, giveaway sponsor. “We ordered right at 2 million tickets.”

Tickets will be given away through Dec. 18 at more than 80 participating businesses. The Grand Prize Drawing for $10,000 in cash will be 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at Arrowhead Mall with a $1,000 Magic Bonus Cash ticket to be drawn immediately after the Grand Prize drawing. Winners need not be present to win the Grand Prize, but must be present to win the Bonus Cash.

The chamber also offers weekly $500 cash prizes Dec. 10. The weekly winning ticket number will be drawn Wednesdays through Dec. 10 and announced Thursdays in the Muskogee Phoenix, on Okie Country 101.7-FM, on the Chamber of Commerce Web site, www.muskogeechamber.org or by calling 682-2866.

The chamber sponsors the giveaway to encourage people to do their Christmas shopping in Muskogee.

“This year it’s more important than ever to shop locally because of the country’s economy,” Harris said. “There are businesses in Muskogee that are feeling the crunch. So we are beginning to encourage people to stay here and do their shopping.”

Even with the goal of getting people to shop locally, some participating merchants say the giveaway draws shoppers from out of town.

“We get people from as far away as Atoka and Idabel,” said Ed Johnson, owner of J&E; Feed Distributor, 1509 N. Main St. “Almost 30 percent of our business this time of year comes from out of town.”

He said out-of-towners are drawn by the assurance that they do not have to be present at the drawing to win the giveaway.

“It seems like every year we give away more tickets,” he said, adding that he could not say exactly how many tickets the store handed out last year.

“I just remember we handed out a bunch of them,” he said.

James Hodge Ford Lincoln Mercury is even getting into the giveaway for the this year for the first time.

General Manager A.C. Lorenz said the dealer will give tickets away for customers needing parts or services.



Reach Cathy Spaulding at 918-684-2928 or Click Here to Send Email