Arvest Winterfest 2011 is officially underway!  This family-fun event began Nov. 25th.  Presented by Arvest Bank and the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, there is something fun for the entire family.  Below is a list of 10 to-dos at Arvest Winterfest 2011 this year.  Lasting until Jan. 2nd, you have plenty of time to check each of them off this list!

1. See the tallest Christmas tree in Oklahoma! This tree towers 44 feet and lights up the night with 35,700 lights. 
2. Do some holiday shopping.  The 2nd Annual Holiday Market at Winterfest features all sorts of good gifts from Oklahoma merchants.  This event is on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10:00am-6:00pm at the BOK Center Grand Lobby.  Free admission.
3. Don’t miss the Parade of Lights!  This annual parade passes right by Winterfest.  This event is on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 6:00pm. 
4. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride through Downtown Tulsa.  Check the Winterfest calendar for days and hours of operations and pricing.
5. Get a picture with Winterfest’s “Segway Santa.”  Keep your camera handy.  Segway Santa will be making appearances each Sunday through Christmas. 
6. Warm up with some classic winter treats!  Enjoy some hot chocolate, hot apple cider or eggnog.  See the Winterfest page for a full-menu of food and beverages available this year.
7. Go see live music!  Sponsored by ONEOK, a variety of live musical entertainment will go on during the duration of Winterfest, free and open to the public.  Check the Winterfest calendar for the entertainment schedule.
8. Bring man’s best friend!  Weiner Dog Races and a Holiday Pet Costume Contest will be held on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 1:00pm.  All proceeds will benefit the Animal Rescue Foundation. 
9. Fight arthritis! The 2011 Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run/Walk will be held on Dec. 10.  Wear your favorite holiday attire while you run or walk in the 1K or 5K race to fight arthritis. 
10. Go outdoor ice skating with your Arvest Credit or Debit Card!  All Arvest customers who show their Arvest card will receive a half-price for ice-skating. 

Winterfest is a Tulsa tradition that you don’t want to miss.  For details about each of these events, scheduling, registration for races and contests, etc., visit www.bokcenter.com/winterfest.    

To end 2011, Arvest InVESTing in Women will be hosting a Holiday Shopping Expo on Tuesday, Dec. 13 from 11:30am-1:00pm.  The event will be held at Arvest Bank in Downtown Bentonville in the conference center.  Snacks and finger foods will be provided.

The expo will feature 25 booths of local business owners and vendors ready to help you complete your holiday shopping!  Bring your bucks (cash only), bring your friends, bring your appetites and enjoy some shopping!  A list of participating businesses is provided below.

Please RSVP to Amie Bland at abland@arvest.com or to Amy Tucker at atucker@arvest.com  no later than Tuesday, December 6th.

Arvest InVESTing in Women Luncheons are monthly and typically involve a fabulous speaker and topic to educate and inform.  Our standard format will resume again in 2012!  The Bentonville meetings, held in the Arvest Bentonville Downtown Conference Center, will be the last Wednesday of every other month beginning in January (Jan, Mar, May, etc).  The Rogers meetings, held in the Arvest Rogers Village on the Creeks – Razorback Room, will be on the second Tuesday of every other month (Feb, Apr, June, etc). 
 
Spa Botanica
Cutting Edge Glass and Frame
Necee Design Jewelry
Lifeline of NorthWest Arkansas
Mary Kay
Thirty One
Old Timey Tin
Art By Becky
Snaps By Poteat Photography
Scentsy
Atwood Designs
Silpada Jewelry
Tastefully Simple
Vault Denim
Miche Bags
Celebrating Homes
Sheets Galore
Dove Chocolate
Jewelry/Crafts
Postnet
Premier Design Jewelry
Phat Tire Bike Shop
Jordan Essentials
The Spa – Esthetiques
Sweet Portrayal Photography
 

Happy Holidays!  Below is a list of holiday events, and you are invited!  Events are listed by state.  Please check back to this list, as it will be periodically updated as more events are scheduled or if changes are made. 

Arkansas

Santa Spotting! Santa will be at Arvest Bank at Rye Hill in Fort Smith on Friday, Dec. 2 from 3:00pm-4:00pm. Free pictures by Bedford’s Camera and Video.

Santa Spotting! Santa will be at Arvest Bank in Alma on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 11:00am – 12:00pm. Free pictures by Bedford’s Camera and Video.

Holiday Parade!  The Siloam Springs Holiday Parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 5:30pm. 

Holiday Parade!  The Rogers Christmas Parade will be held in downtown Rogers on Monday, Dec. 5 at 6:45pm. 

Holiday Open House! Come by Arvest Bank at Financial Center in Bentonville on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 10:00am—4:00pm.

Holiday Open House! Come by Arvest Bank at the participating branches on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 10:00am—2:00pm.

• Fayetteville Downtown Branch
• Fayetteville Wedington Branch
• Fayetteville Crossover Branch
• Fayetteville Joyce Branch
• Fayetteville Green Acres Branch
• Fayetteville MLK Blvd. Branch
• Fayetteville Millsap Branch
• Elkins Branch

Holiday Open House! Come by Arvest Bank in Gravette on Friday, Dec. 9 from 11:00am—4:00pm.

Holiday Open House!  Come by Arvest Bank in Bella Vista at the participating branches on Friday, Dec. 9 during business hours.

• Bella Vista Town Center Branch
• Bella Vista Highlands Branch
• Bella Vista Sugar Creek Branch

Holiday Open House!  Come by Arvest Bank in Downtown Bentonville on Wednesday, Dec. 14 from 10:00am-2:00pm.

Holiday Open House! Come by Arvest Bank at the College location in Bentonville on Friday, Dec. 16 from 11:00am—3:00pm

Holiday Open House!  Come by Arvest Bank in Huntsville on S. Hughes on Friday, Dec. 16 from 1:00pm-4:00pm. 

Carolers! The Tyson Elementary 5th Grade Choir will be singing Christmas Carols at Arvest at Emma St. in Springdale on Monday, Dec. 19 at 12:45pm. 

Oklahoma

Ringing Bells!  Arvest associates will be ringing bells for the Salvation Army on Wednesday, Nov. 30 all day at the Bartlesville Wal-Mart.

Holiday Parade! The Vinita Christmas Parade will be held on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7:00pm.

Holiday Parade! The Nowata Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2:00pm.

Holiday Parade!  The Norman Holiday Parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10:00am—12:00pm in downtown Norman.

Holiday Parade! The Dewey Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 6:00pm.

Christmas Party!  The Downtown Forum Christmas Party in Bartlesville will be held on Monday, Dec. 12 from 12:00pm—1:00pm. 

Business After Hours Event!  Come by Arvest Bank in Norman on Main Street for this annual holiday event on Tuesday, Dec. 13 from 5:00pm—7:00pm.

Santa Spotting! Santa will be at Arvest Bank in Walters on Thursday, Dec. 15 from 3:30pm—5:00pm.  Open house event with refreshments provided.

Christmas Party!  The Friday Financial Forum Christmas Party will be held on Friday, Dec. 16 from 10:00am—11:00am at the Bartlesville Eastside branch.

Santa Spotting! Santa will be at Arvest Bank in Chickisha on Friday, Dec. 16 from 3:30pm—5:30pm.  Open house event with refreshments provided.

Holiday Open House! Come by Arvest Bank at the participating branches on Friday, Dec. 16 during business hours.

• Bartlesville Main Branch
• Bartlesville Tower Branch
• Bartlesville Eastside Branch
• Bartlesville Colonial Branch
• Dewey Branch
• Vinita Branch
• Nowata Branch

Holiday Parade!  The Bartlesville Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 5:30pm.

Kansas

Holiday Open House!  Come by Arvest Bank in Caney on Friday, Dec. 16 during business hours.

Holiday Open House!  Come by Arvest Bank in Leawood on Mission Rd. on Friday, Dec. 16  during business hours.

Holiday Open House!  Come by Arvest Bank in Lenexa on Pflumm Rd. on Dec. 19-24, Mon.-Fri. 10:00am-6:00pm and Sat. 10:00am-1:00pm. 

Holiday Open House!  Come by Arvest Bank in Overland Park on Metcalf Ave. and 135th St. on Dec. 19-23 during business hours.

Missouri

Holiday Open House! Come by Arvest Bank in downtown Kansas City on W. 10th St. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 from 10:00am-4:00pm.

Holiday Open House! Come by Arvest Bank in Anderson on Friday, Dec. 16 from 10:00am-2:00pm.

Holiday Open House!  Come by Arvest Bank in Noel on Friday, Dec. 23 from 10:00am-2:00pm.

Each year during the holiday season, Arvest in Springdale, Ark.  holds a coloring contest with two of the local elementary schools.  Students are asked to draw Thanksgiving or Christmas greeting cards. Artwork entries were judged on creativity and originality.  This year they received over 500 entries from each elementary school!  The winning greeting cards will be featured on this year’s holiday greeting cards from Arvest.  

Arvest in Springdale is proud to announce this year’s winners: 

• Jayci Carpenter from Tyson Elementary School – Christmas card artwork 
• Felicity Rubio from Jones Elementary School – Thanksgiving artwork 

Each winner received a $25 Arvest gift card, which was presented to them at their fall school assemblies.    Arvest in Springdale looks forward to sharing these special holiday cards with their customers this year.  
 

Happy Cyber Monday! While the holiday season may be a time of practicing long-standing traditions, the way we shop for the holidays is continuing to change.  With the lightening speed growth of technology and how we use the internet every day, Cyber Monday has taken the place of the ever-famous Black Friday for some holiday shoppers.

If you are one of those Cyber Monday shoppers or considering giving it a try this year, we offer some tips before you click “Purchase.”

Do a Little Window Shopping.

Once you have your list ready, spend some time "window shopping" at different stores online. Look for gift ideas, the best deals and shipping deadlines. Use your browser's search engine to type the name of a specific product or "online price comparison" for a list of websites to help you compare prices. Remember to consider the cost of shipping for online purchases at the competing online stores, and maybe even the cost of gas and your time. 

Shop Online Safely.

Online shopping can pose risks.  Know these threats to avoid getting ripped off.

• If you're not using a large, well-known retailer, check for credibility. Do your homework before giving out your card number. There are plenty of scammers on the internet. 
• While doing any holiday shopping, always keep a close eye on your account. 
• And of course, be sure the website is secure.

Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute.

Once you've found the deal you can't pass up, be sure to double check everything. You want to be sure you'll get your merchandise in time and that you can return or replace it if need be. 

• Know your deadlines. As Christmas approaches, the chance of finding that perfect gift online and having it shipped it time diminishes each day.   
• Check the return policy. Understand how to return merchandise, who pays for it, how long you have to return it, and whether you will have your credit card refunded or just get a credit at that online retailer.

The Internet has certainly offered some variation on tradition when it comes to holiday shopping. If you choose to avoid the crowded malls and stressful traffic, be sure to do it safely. After all, holiday shopping is part of the holiday tradition, regardless of how it is practiced.

The time has come—it’s time to start your holiday gift buying!  This year, give the Arvest Visa Gift Card! It’s the all-around perfect gift for absolutely anyone. 

Whether it’s a last-minute gift on your way to a holiday party, a solution to avoiding the holiday-shopping madness or as an always-pleasing gift for those loved ones who are too hard to buy for, it’s great for any occasion and any person.

The Arvest Visa Gift Card is a prepaid card that can be used anywhere VISA is accepted—including for online and over-the-telephone purchases.  Gift Cards may range in the amount of $25 up to $750 and can be purchased at any Arvest branch, making it a convenient option for your holiday shopping. 

To learn more about the Arvest Visa Gift Card, click here.
 

While Thanksgiving is a time to pause and give thanks for all that you have, it is also a great time to GIVE thanks by doing something for others.

Think of all the things you say thank you for without even thinking about it during the day. We may not stop to think of the small things people do for us, and we probably don't ponder the positive impact these small actions have. But we can sure benefit from turning around and giving acts of kindness back to others.

The concept of “Pay it Forward” involves a person who does a good deed for someone else and asks only that they "pay it forward" in return for the deed. When the recipient wants to "pay it back", the giver simply instructs them to "pay it forward" — to do a kind act for someone else. The good deeds could be as simple as paying the toll for the person behind you, letting the harried mother with tired children cut in front of you in the checkout line or giving your umbrella to someone less prepared on a rainy day.

This holiday season, Arvest Bank encourages you to give thanks and pay it forward.  Over the month of November, Arvest Bank and 101.1 KLRC in Northwest Arkansas teamed together to help listeners “Pay it Forward.”  Listeners were given the opportunity to submit what they would do with $101 for someone else.  Each Friday during the month of November, the KLRC Morning Show announced three winners for Arvest Bank and KLRC to sponsor.  

Arvest Bank and 101.1 KLRC also sponsored a Pay it Forward Food Drive on Nov. 17 that benefited LifeSource International, a non-profit organization of Fayetteville, Ark.  Community members were invited to bring food items to various Arvest branches throughout Northwest Arkansas as a way to GIVE thanks. 

Please give thanks while giving thanks this year.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
 

On October 4, 2011, every third-grader in Ottawa, Kan. visited Sylvester Ranch in southwest Franklin County for their “Day on the Farm.” For nearly 20 years, area third-graders spend the day learning hands-on about agriculture and farming at an event sponsored by the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee. 

This year, the Arvest grill and several associates provided over 500 freshly cooked hotdogs to every third-grader in Franklin County along with the teachers and parents who attended as well.

“I really enjoyed seeing all the kids outside on the farm, learning about farming and agriculture,” said Branch Manager Jennifer Hayes.