Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation's Christmas Fantasy scheduled for Nov. 11-14

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy 2011 will be held Friday through Monday, November 11-14 at the Allamakee Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. This year's theme will be “It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas.” A complete list of events scheduled for the Christmas Fantasy can be found on Page 2A inside this week's Standard.
Reservations are now being taken for the popular Saturday evening Wine, Cheese and Dessert Event, and the two 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.
Saturday, guests will enjoy entertainment by pianist Alaine Meier. Betty Maslo will be the pianist entertaining at the Monday luncheon, followed by the Allamakee Community School Brass Quintet and Flute Choir 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. 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 will feature a special wine, cheese and dessert event sponsored by the Eagle’s Landing Winery of Marquette. Attendees are asked to call 563-568-4177 for reservations. The cost includes refreshments, viewing of the decorations, musical entertainment, and a special wine tasting demonstration by the Eagles Landing Winery. Pianist Kristie Roeder will be providing the entertainment for that evening.
The Friday evening “Tingle ‘N Mingle” will be held from 5-8 p.m. and is sponsored by Four County Ag. 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 Jim and Charlene Baxter. Special holiday entertainment that evening will include Sandra Dage, Diane Haler, The Hagen Family and Lynn Johnson. Tickets for this event can be purchased at Veterans Memorial Hospital, from all local banks, or 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 by 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 2011 event will be open to the public Saturday, Sunday and Monday afternoons. Entertainment Sunday afternoon will feature area children’s choirs including the St. John’s Lutheran Children’s Choir and the St. Patrick School Choir, piano students of Lois Fossum, Tim Lund and Adrianne Gerst, plus pianists Madelyn and Meredith Gruber.
Monday afternoon at 2:15 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. Later in the evening, the Fantasy guests will be entertained by pianists Samantha Swartz, Victoria Virtcharenko and Sarah Gruman.
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.
A number of quilted and crafted items will be displayed at the Fantasy and will actually have a price on them.  These items can be purchased throughout the weekend; however, they are sold on a first come, first serve basis. Items will be marked sold as they are purchased and can be picked up at the end of the four-day event. All of these items have been made and donated to the Foundation by area individuals.
The “It’s Beginning To Look a lot Like Christmas” Christmas Fantasy 2011 is planned and sponsored by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, including Wayne Burk, Jane Dietrich, Debbie Hager, Kevin Hanson, Randy Hesse, Amy Hill, Nancy Klocke, Gloria Krambeer, Craig Lensing, Dennis Lyons, Jon Payne, Nancy Schoh, Nona Sawyer, Sue Schlitter and Bill Shafer, assisted by Kim Sylvester, Karen Swenson, Julie Thompson and Pat Pettingill.
For more information on the Christmas Fantasy, call Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation members Sue Schlitter at 563-568-2438 or Gloria Krambeer at 563-568-3182.