Picture Butte Chamber ready for Midnight Madness Nov. 14

Posted on November 6, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

The Picture Butte and District Chamber of Commerce is preparing to kick off the holiday season with its annual Midnight Madness on Nov. 14. 

The annual event officially gets underway with activities starting at 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. although some local businesses may start offering sales earlier in the day and continue until after nine o’clock that evening. 

Each year, Midnight Madness includes a variety of family-friendly activities and this year will feature pictures with Santa, hay rides, a silent auction fundraiser for the Picture Butte Food Bank, a Christmas Tree lighting, kids crafts, music and carollers, and of course, plenty of sales at local businesses for those eager to begin their Christmas shopping.  

“There’s usually some fantastic deals on that businesses are offering that evening,” said Bronwyn Kelly, executive board member with the Picture Butte and District Chamber of Commerce. “You can definitely save some money, if there’s something you were looking at, it’s often a good time to go and get them.” 

Many chamber members and local retailers take part in the annual event, she noted, which helps Picture Butte and area families prepare for the upcoming holiday season. 

“For the most part, it is extremely well attended,” said Kelly, noting Midnight Madness has been a long-running event in the community for years. “It’s an easy event for friends and families to get together … you get a large number of people out for the different festivities so they get to see what is offered on their doorstep (in Picture Butte).” 

This year, the Christmas Tree lighting will take place from 6 to 6:30 p.m. There will also be a mini-mall and market at Picture Butte High School, fire pits, hot chocolate, popcorn and possibly food trucks available, and weather permitting, outdoor skating on an outdoor rink. 

“Something that just started last year, that proved quite popular with families is the Elf On the Shelf. Each business will have an elf located somewhere within their store and children will have a treasure hunt to find the Elf On the Shelf (at all businesses),” said Kelly. “It encourages families to make their way around to each of the individual stores.” 

Several local organizations will also be participating in this year’s Midnight Madness, volunteering and helping out with the event. 

The annual Midnight Madness helps support the community and support local businesses, noted Kelly, adding it is one event that highlights the local business community, who will be participating in a Community Gift Basket giveaway this year, that includes gift cards or vouchers to local businesses. Patrons receive a ballot with purchases made during “sale time.”

“When you make a purchase, they will enter you in the draw and there are prizes associated with that,” said Kelly. “It helps showcase a variety of the businesses in Picture Butte.”

For more information, visit the Picture Butte & District Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.picturebuttechamber.ca