Holiday Extravaganza Winners - Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce

Strawberries from High Acres Fruit Farm, Hartford Michigan

Apples from High Acres Fruit Farm, Hartford Michigan

Grape Tomatoes from High Acres Fruit Farm, Hartford Michigan

Plums from High Acres Fruit Farm, Hartford Michigan

    2007
    Christmas Traditions
   in
   Hartford Michigan

Click here to view a short slideshow of the festivities.

Christmas is something very special in Hartford. Several events occurred on the evening of December 8, 2007, as an estimated 500 area folks became one to enjoy a lighted parade and Christmas In The Park. We'd like to share that evening and hope you will grasp a small glimpse of why our small town has come to enjoy the Winter Festival.

Local artists created huge Christmas cards that greeted children, adults, and the young-at-heart to lights, chili, hot chocolate, hot dogs, and many other goodies. The Lions Club provided keepsake pictures of kids with Santa. Small groups of friends and neighbors shared the evening as they huddled around warm bonfire barrels stoked with wood. Everyone relished the Currier & Ives-type beauty, aroma, and music that filled the night air with a memorable Christmas spirit at the pavilion in Ely Park.

Special thanks to the volunteers noted below who worked so hard to give us all a Christmas event to remember.

4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Chili Cook-off and judging - sponsored by the Hartford Lions Club Under the direction of Kim and Scott Sinclair.
Winners are:
Best Red Chili	• Cacie and McKenzie Shaffer (3rd year in a row at winning 1st place)
Best Green-Alternative Chili	• Linda Gray

5:30 p.m. - Awards from school contests - sponsored by the Hartford Lions Club Under the direction of Kim and Scott Sinclair.
Written or illustrated Winter or Christmas themes • $10.00 gift certificates for the Scholastic Book Sale at the Elementary schools • $25 gift certificate for Middle School and High School winners
Winners with written themes are:
• Kendall Ziemer • Makayla Robinson • Raquel Martinez • Nora Santiago • Alfredo G. Juana Diaz • Alberto Ibarra • Yarnell Galvan • Dylan Deckert • Joey Riley • Olivia Valentine • Morgan Mullins • Olivia Valentine • Morgan Mullins • Matthew Hallgren • Roberto Ramon • Ashleigh Strunk • Christie Brandt • Tatiana Ledesma • Angie Summerhill
Winners with illustrated themes are:
• Mariah Pleyer • Kyle Manning • Ashley Herrer • Miss Marni's entire class • Joel Soto • Carter Gendron • Natalie H. • James L. • Hunter Archer • Trey Ackerman • Robert Palmer • Katelynnn Perdue • Alexis White • Vanessa Cortes • Kelsey Williams • Jose Garcia • Karen Reyes • Thomas Stewart
Winner of Teachers Award:
• Mrs. Hughes, 1st Grade at Red Arrow Elementary - $50 gift certificate.

6:00 p.m. - Awards from the Lighted Parade - 29 entries Sponsored by the City of Hartford under the direction of Bob and Shirley Hall
Best Overall Entry
	1st place Bess Farms, Hartford
Business Category
	1st place Bess Farms, Hartford	2nd place Contours Express, Coloma
Fire Department Category
	1st place Hartford Fire Department	2nd place Pete Sinclair - Antique Fire Truck
Church Category
	1st place Calvary Pentecostal Church	2nd place Hartford Federated Church
Misc Category
	1st place Coloma Gymnastics	2nd place Hartford Friends of the Library
Chairman's Award
Tina Streeter's horses and buggy

Other winners selected during Christmas in the Park

50-50 raffle - sponsored by the Hartford Lions Club

Melinda Conley

Fully decorated Christmas tree - sponsored by the Hartford Lions Club

Jason Spangler

And the WINNERS are ........ Holiday Extravaganza - Hartford Michigan

Holiday Extravaganza - sponsored by the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce
Hartford Chamber Merchant	Gift Certificate	Winner
Hair Forum	$15.00	Bob Kendzior
Hair Forum	$15.00	Pam Kibler
Hardings Market	$50.00	Diana Walker
Hardings Market	$50.00 (donated)	Kelly Glassnor
Hardings Market	$25.00	Steve Warford
Keeler Keg	$25.00	Tad Moody
Hartford Chiropractic Clinic	$27.50 Massage	Tim Hildebrand
Hartford Chiropractic Clinic	$27.50 Massage (donated)	Steve Hossler
Gala-T-Inn Restaurant	$25.00	Liz McCrary
Taqueria La Fe - Heb 11:1 Restaurant	$25.00	Mike Graham
Arndt's Auto Service	$25.00	Salina Barr
National City Bank	$25.00 Visa Card	Jane Boze
National City Bank	$25.00 Visa Card	Andrew Rios
Panel Room Restaurant	$25.00	Sheila Nye
Panel Room Restaurant	$25.00	Linda Benham
S & A Automotive	$25.00	Karen Reyes
S & A Automotive	$25.00	Lola Barr
Kellogg's Hardware	$25.00	Elaine Carlson
Kellogg's Hardware	$25.00	Al Rosier

The Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce purchased approximately $500 in gift certificates from Chamber Business Members to be given away during the Christmas In The Park festivities. A special thank you to our participating Chamber Business members for being part of our Holiday Extravaganza. The winners expressed a sincere appreciation for helping to make their Christmas a little brighter. Randomly selected children and adults drew names of the winners from a big box of 373 entries.

An extra special thanks to the Holiday Extravaganza committee members for purchasing and collecting the gift certificates from participating businesses and pulling together the Shop Locally Campaign - it wouldn't have happened without your hard work! Thanks Tad Moody, Natalie Rios, Sheila Nye, Ron Sefcik, and Emma Sefcik.

A very special thanks to the Hartford Lions Club for allowing us to have our Chamber drawing during their festivities.