NEW ULM — A large group of people wait for the New Ulm Chamber Crazy Days Ping Pong Drop downtown Saturday morning.

More than 800 balls were throw from the rooftop of Inspire Wedding + Event Center. Each ball could be turned in for a discount at one of New Ulm’s local stores. The discounts varied from 20% off to buy one, get one free.

A few balls could even be turned in for free Chamber Dollars. Chamber Dollars can be used at any New Ulm Chamber business are regular casth. A total of 40 balls were good for $5 Chamber Dollars. Two people collected ping pong bolls worth $50 in Chamber Dollars. There were also balls for $200 and $300 in Chamber Dollars.

All of the ping pong balls were required needed to be used on Saturday and Sunday. The hope was to encourage individuals to shop locally. Many of the downtown area stores were having Crazy Day discounts.

In addition, to the retail sales downtown Minnesota Street was closed to accomodate a vendor’s fair. Over a dozen vendors sold items right off the sidewalk. Some of the storefronts expanded their sales to the sidewalks.

The Crazy Days festivities also coincided with the weekly Farmer’s Markert held a block down on German Street.

The two events brought hundreds of visitors to downtown New Ulm and to spend locally.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch
Let’s go crazy
A large group of people wait for the New Ulm Chamber Crazy Days Ping Pong Drop downtown Saturday morning. More than 800 balls with retail discounts written on them were throw from the rooftop of Inspire Wedding + Event Center. New Ulm Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sarah Warmka said 40 ping pong balls each offered $5 in Chamber Dollars and two others offered $50 in Chamber Dollars. Other ping pong balls were good for free food and gifts.