The Nebraska Dept of Tourism has unveiled its new Holiday Passport program with the New Leaf Marketplace in Chadron one of the 20 first-year stops.
The holiday-centered version of the wildly popular summer Passport will showcase some of the best shopping, dining, and holiday-ing in Nebraska, and New Leaf co-owner Angela Lollar is excited to have been chosen.
The announcement of the Holiday Passport program and the 20 sites came out earlier this week, but Angela says she and her husband Phill were told of their selection several weeks ago and had to keep it secret until now.
Nebraska Tourism executive director John Ricks says the popularity of the original Passport program inspired the launch of the holiday version, adding that “passporting doesn’t have to just be a summer activity.
This is the 4th holiday season since the Lollars moved to Chadron and bought The New Leaf, and Angela says this year will see a combination of past favorites and a few changes or additions.
Two other Panhandle businesses are also Holiday Passport stops: The Mixing Bowl Cafe and the Legacy of the Plains Museum, both in Gering.
Travelers will have from November 19 through New Year’s Day to visit the attractions and get stamps that make them eligible for a variety of prize drawings.
Passport program coordinator Madison Johnson says “there are so many festive and fun experiences to be had during the holiday season in Nebraska,” with some of this year’s 20 stops including both past summer locations and brand-new destinations.
Passports will be available at the 20 participating sites starting next week or can be pre-ordered at NebraskaPassport.com/holiday. As with the summer program, the Holiday Passport is also offered in a virtual format.