Entertainment for the 25th Annual Christmas Fantasy announced, make reservations now
Reservations are now being accepted for the Christmas Fantasy Saturday and Monday Noon Luncheons and the Saturday Wine, Cheese and Dessert event. Pictured is a scene from last year’s Friday Night “Tingle ‘n Mingle” event. The “25 Years of Caring and Sharing” Christmas Fantasy will be held at the Allamakee Fairgrounds Pavilion the weekend of November 11, 12, 13 and 14 and is sponsored by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation. Submitted photo.
The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy 2016 will be held Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 11, 12, 13 and 14 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. The theme will be “25 Years of Caring and Sharing” in honor of the 25th anniversary of the event.
In addition to the nearly 60 decorated Christmas trees on display, this year’s event will again offer many, many shopping opportunities on the silent auction.
Reservations are now being taken for the popular Saturday evening Wine, Cheese and Dessert Event, and the Noon luncheons.
The luncheons are sponsored again this year by the Allamakee County Cattlemen’s Association and will be held Saturday, November 12 at Noon and again Monday, November 14 at Noon. A full meal will be served, plus entertainment will be provided at both events. At the Saturday luncheon, guests will enjoy entertainment by pianist Kristi Roeder. Alaine Meier will be the pianist entertaining at the Monday luncheon, followed by some members of the Waukon High School band directed by JoAnn Sherman.
All guests will have ample time to view all of the displays at the event. Reservations can be made by calling 563-568-6262. (Note: The Saturday luncheon offers more room to stroll around and view the trees and is a great option for enjoying the Fantasy on the weekend with friends and family from out of town.)
Saturday evening, November 12 will feature a special wine, cheese and dessert event sponsored by the Eagle’s Landing Winery of Marquette and also the Empty Nest Winery of Waukon. Call 563-568-4177 for reservations or to decorate and host a table. The cost includes refreshments, viewing of the decorations, musical entertainment, and wine compliments of Eagles Landing Winery and Empty Nest Winery. Entertainment will be provided by Megan Vinson.
The Friday evening “Tingle ‘N Mingle” will be held Friday, November 11 from 5-8 p.m. and is sponsored by Four County Ag of Postville. This event is a special opportunity to meet socially with friends and co-workers after work. Many tables of hors d’oeuvres, desserts, candies, breads and spirits will be served among the trees throughout the evening and will be catered by B.E. Catered, Jim and Charlene Baxter and Mary Engrav. Special holiday entertainment that evening will include Betty Maslo, Lane Rich, Tim and Lindsey Lund and Sarah Bieber Palmer. Tickets for this event can be purchased at Veterans Memorial Hospital or from all local banks. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, children will be given a special chance to see the Fantasy, plus have a visit with Santa Claus. Story telling with Sue Kiesau will add to the excitement. Katie Hennessy of Cotécolor Photography will be on hand for a holiday Christmas card/picture opportunity for children with Santa Claus. These photos will be available for purchase.
The Christmas Fantasy 2016 event will be open to the public Saturday, Sunday and Monday afternoons. Entertainment Sunday afternoon is sponsored by Thrivent Financial and will feature area children’s choirs including the St. John’s Lutheran Children’s Choir and the St. Pat’s School Choir and St. Pat’s School Bell Choir as well as piano students of Lois Fossum, Lane Rich, Lindsey Lund and Tim Lund.
Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. Marcia Hesse’s Bright Beginning’s Pre-Kindergarten Class will be performing for the area nursing home residents attending the Fantasy as well as the public.
Christmas treats and cider will be offered during these public showings. Preschool children enter the Fantasy free of charge, but must be accompanied by an adult. Additional admission pricing and general information about the event can be found in the advertisement printed on Page 13A of The Standard print edition and e-edition.
Numerous silent auction items will be available for purchase through a silent bid that will continue over the course of this four-day event. These door and wall decorations, centerpieces, gift baskets, chairs, quilts and mini-trees will be silent auctioned with the highest bidder winning the purchase at 7 p.m. Monday evening, November 14. Until that closing time, bidders can return, free of charge, to the Fantasy and raise their bid.
The 25th Annual Christmas Fantasy is planned and sponsored by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, including Sue Blagsvedt, Dan Denk, Jane Dietrich, Jackie Halverson, Kevin Hanson, Amy Cote’, Ardie Kuhse, Craig Lensing, Dennis Lyons, Gail Prestemon, Ann Roed, Jeanette Reugnitz, Nona Sawyer, Nancy Schoh and Matt Teslow, assisted by Kim Sylvester, Karen Swenson, Julie Thompson, Pat Pettingill and Wayne Burk.
Call the numbers listed above to make reservations for the Saturday and Monday Fantasy Luncheons, or for the Saturday night Wine, Cheese and Dessert event.
For more information on the Christmas Fantasy, call Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation member Erin Berns at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
