ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Those looking for a golden evening of fun will soon have just that opportunity.

The 2026 Chamber Bash will be Saturday, April 4 at the Seward County Activity Center, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and the dinner and everything else starting at 6 p.m. The meal will be a prime rib dinner thanks to National Beef. The Chamber Recognition Awards will start at 7 p.m. and then the entertainment will start at 8 p.m., which this year will be hypnotist Erick Känd. The Richie Dorman Band will be providing music during the meal, and EverMore and Co. Photography will be on hand to take commemorative photos that evening.

While the Bash might still seem a while away, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rozelle Webb said there is still a lot of planning to be done.

“We encourage businesses to reserve their corporate tables now, get in touch with us at the Chamber of Commerce office at (620) 624-3855 and we'll get you set up. The theme for this year is ‘A Golden Night to Remember' so whatever that means to you, the sky's the limit as far as decorations,” Webb said. “As always, you don't have to be a Chamber member to get tickets, anyone in town can come to the Bash, and they can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce office at 4 Rock Island Road.”

“We’re really excited to have The Richie Dorman Band, we had them last year for the first time and they did an amazing job. We got lots of great feedback, and everyone was excited to hear they were going to be coming back again this year,” Chamber Bash Committee Chair Chasity Wallace added. “And we also have partnered with Tortuga Brewery, we're going to be doing a happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m., and they're going to have some drinks based on the bash and the chamber if people are interested in going there before they come to the bash.”

Webb also expressed excitement about Känd as this year’s entertainment.

“We're excited to have him come here, he promised he will fill the Bash with fun and laughter, and he should entertain the audience with his comedy hypnosis show,” Webb said. “He wants to highlight and accentuate the talents creativity of the volunteers who want to be hypnotized, and he will do nothing to embarrass them. We would like people to be thinking about they would like to be hypnotized.”

Wallace said there is a lot to be excited about for this year’s Bash.

“We're excited about the band, and we're excited about we have a little surprise for everyone when we come in. So we're excited about that, and I'm excited to have a photographer there,” Wallace said. “We wanted to do something different for the entertainment this year since we’ve had a comedian the last few years. We wanted to switch it up, and we're excited to see how the hypnotist works. It's been several years since we've had one, and I think it's going to be a really entertaining show everybody's going to really enjoy.”

“And where else can you go for $50 and have an evening with a very nice prime rib dinner, fun entertainment and be with your friends?” Webb said. “I think it'll be an exciting evening. I think it's a wonderful thing to bring to Liberal every year. I've always heard positive comments about how much they've enjoyed going and being able to socialize with everyone else. This is one of the big ones for the Chamber of Commerce, and we work hard to put it on, and we want everyone to come out and enjoy themselves.”

Webb and Wallace also offered encouragement for corporate table sponsorships.

“Having a corporate table is a great way to show off your business. You can decorate your table and have your name on it, and when people sit at your table, then you can tell them about your business,” Webb said. “So it's a great way to get to draw more people into your business.”

“I think it's great for the different businesses to have tables next to each other,” Wallace added. “You might get to visit with another business owner you haven't seen for a while, or learn more about their business. And hopefully those businesses will work together in the future on some project or another.”

Webb said she was very pleased with the turnout to last year’s Bash, and hopes to see that again for this year.

“For last year, we had a good turnout. Last year, we had more than 300 people and we had a lot of people who told us they enjoyed themselves and getting to get out and have a nice evening with a nice dinner and getting to be together,” Webb said. “I think it's a wonderful thing. The Bash is always a great time, and there are so many people who have this event on their calendar for several weeks, if not months, because they're so excited about it every year. It'll be a great dinner like every year, and it's always fun to come and see who ends up winning all the awards we give out that evening. We will be giving out our Merit Award, our Ambassador of the Year Award, our Business of the Year Award, and we'll also be giving out awards for the corporate table decorations, best use of the prop and awards for best costumes.”

Webb and Wallace agreed they also hope to see a lot of creativity with the corporate table decorations.

“I think the creativity. I love being able to come up with new ideas, trying to figure out new things that we can do for the community,” Webb said. “And I think it's a wonderful thing to bring people together like that.”

“I love seeing how people decorate their corporate tables, because everybody's imagination is grand,” Wallace added.

Overall, Webb said, it should be a fun evening.

“Again, we're still taking sponsorships, so if any business wants to do that, they can get in touch with us at the Chamber of Commerce office at (620) 624-3855 and we'll get you set up and have your banner hung up and make sure everyone knows you're a sponsor,” Webb said. “Judging by the number of businesses who have already signed up to be sponsors for this year, I think it's going to be a great Bash just like in the past. Just come out to the Bash this year and be prepared for to have fun.”