ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Those looking for some great summer bargains will soon have just that chance thanks to the Liberal Chamber of Commerce and local businesses.
The 2025 Bazaar Days will take place Friday, July 18 (with some stores opening as early as 6 a.m.) and Saturday, July 19, with the stores operating during their regular hours.
“We are asking any business in the community that would like to participate in this year’s Bazaar Days to call the Chamber of Commerce office at (620) 624-3855 and let us know they want to do so,” Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rozelle Webb said. “We’re wanting to have a list of all the participating businesses so we have those lists at the participating stores and customers can have a shopping list, so to speak, of where to go that weekend. Restaurants are also welcome to offer specials for Bazaar Days so shoppers can have something special to eat those two days. I know the past few years, it’s been kind of difficult for businesses to put their merchandise out on the sidewalk due to various circumstances, including a shortage of staff to be able to be outside all day, so to help with that, we are making up signs that will indicate if a business is participating. But if you’re a participating business and would still like to put some merchandise outside, you’re still more than welcome to do so if you can, and those signs will go to the first 10 businesses that ask for one. We don’t have a final count yet, but we are still taking sign-ups, so if you have a business and want to participate this year, just let us know and we’ll get you all signed up.”
Webb said she and staff are excited for this year’s Bazaar Days.
“We have Bazaar Days to give people in the area a chance to hunt for some bargains and also get some back-to-school shopping done,” Webb said. “It’s also a great time for businesses to be able to sell some of their extra merchandise they’ve had on the shelves for a while or just have specials on certain items or sections. Bazaar Days is here to help businesses and customers alike, which is great. I’m excited to see people come to Liberal from out of town and help our merchants sell some of their wares they’re wanting to move out of their store – a lot of places are already preparing for the next season’s collection(s), so this is a great time for them to do that.”
Bazaar Days is a great opportunity for both local businesses and local shoppers, Webb said.
“Bazaar Days is great opportunity to get even more people in your store, and that increased foot traffic is always great to see. If there are certain items you’re looking to put on sale, Bazaar Days is a great opportunity to do that. I know some businesses also order special items just for Bazaar Days, so that’s something else people can take advantage of. It’s a great weekend to make those sales,” Webb said. “Then for shoppers, bargains are always great, so it’s always great for shoppers to find that item they were looking for at a discount. We’ve already had several calls from people out of town asking when Bazaar Days will be and who all will be participating, and I love getting those calls every year. And like I say every year, Bazaar Days is also a great way to introduce yourself to a store you haven’t been in before and see what all they have to offer. We advertise in a 50-mile radius, so we’ll continue spreading the word about this year through social media, our Chamber Web site, and multiple other ways, so in my mind, there’s no reason for people to not know this will be going on. We get calls from people in the Oklahoma Panhandle and even all the way in the Texas Panhandle, so it’s a pretty wide area people are coming from, and it’s great knowing we reach so many people and convince them to come and shop in Liberal. Bazaar Days is a great way to bring people into Liberal, and it’s just an overall great shopping opportunity.”
Webb added she hopes for a lot of shoppers in Liberal next weekend.
“I’m hoping to see a lot of shoppers out and about and seeing what all is available in our town in terms of shopping and bargains. Grab a friend or two and make a good shopping day of it all,” Webb said. “People are always looking for good bargains, so I think we’ll see a lot of people out and about shopping and seeing what deals they can come away with from that weekend. I’m just glad to give people the opportunity to get out and find some good bargains and again, it’s just a great opportunity to bring more people into Liberal. It’s great to be able to help our local businesses have a bit of a boost over that weekend and have more foot traffic in their stores. I like helping businesses get noticed, this is a great opportunity to do that from the Chamber standpoint.”
Overall, this year’s Bazaar Days should be another good run, Webb said.
“Like I said, everyone loves a good bargain, so that’s what keeps a lot of people coming back. I know shopping has changed in the past few years in terms of being able to order things online, but there’s nothing like actually going into a store and seeing what you’re shopping for up close and in person,” Webb said. “These are our local businesses that support the town and all the various activities that go on, so since they support us, we should support them. Like every year, we just invite everyone to come to Liberal and look for some good bargains at our amazing businesses. We already have some local businesses signed up to participate for this year, and we expect more, so people should have a good list of places where they can go shopping.”
