HAMLET – It seems like only last week that members of the Richmond County Chamber of Commerce gathered at Richmond Memorial Hospital with their endeared guests to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal and welcome in the holiday season.
But between tree lightings, celebrations, and holiday sales of all sizes, the weeks since then have flown by, and the Christmas holiday is nearly upon us. And so is another Richmond County Chamber of Commerce Connections After Five event.
This Thursday, December 14, local business leaders and beloved guests will assemble to discuss the latest happenings in Richmond County’s business sector as the annual Christmas Connections event is set to be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hamlet Train Depot.
For Stephanie Thornsbury, Museum Director for the Hamlet Train Depot and Museums, hosting events at her facility is always a welcomed occasion. Therefore, hosting something as special as the final and most festive Connections event of the year, as well as the only Hamlet-based Connections event of the year, was an opportunity that she couldn’t pass up.
In conjunction with both the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Hamlet, Thornsbury and her team have been working to create an event that will be sure to delight guests and fill them all with holiday cheer.
The drop-in style event will begin with an opportunity to mingle and jingle over light refreshments throughout the Hamlet Train Depot and Museum. Around 5:30 p.m. guests will be encouraged to make their way into the Depot’s historic rotunda to enjoy a savory sit-down style dinner prepared by Rick’s Catering. Here, a brief blessing, welcoming speeches, and drawings for door prizes are slated to round out the evening’s festivities and set the scene for a possible visit from a certain seasonal “special guest”.
For Thornsbury though, the opportunity to host an event such as Christmas Connections is more than an opportunity to allow Chamber members to network. She feels that it is also an opportunity to host people who would not normally come into the museum.
“I am hoping that people will learn something new about Hamlet and our history while visiting the museum,” expressed Thornsbury, an active champion for the small town. “(I am hoping) that this event will help lead the way to more visitors as well as more exciting events in the future.”
“The Chamber has had a successful 2017 and what better way to wrap up the end of the year than with a Connections After Five with the City of Hamlet” explained Chamber of Commerce President Emily Tucker. “We are so excited to be co-hosting this with the city and museum, and are hoping to see many members at the event.”
For Chamber Members or invited guests who are interested in attending this year’s Christmas Connections event, they are encouraged to contact the Richmond County Chamber of Commerce at (910) 895 – 9058 to RSVP.
