“Never Stop Believing” at the 27th Anniversary Christmas Fantasy 2018


Christmas trees at the 27th Annual Christmas Fantasy ... The Veterans Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation’s 27th Annual Christmas Fantasy hosted 51 decorated full-size Christmas trees at the event held November 9-12. These trees were all decorated by local individuals, businesses, organizations and classes and each had a local person or business sponsoring them as well. Many local entertainers also performed at each event during the course of the weekend. Submitted photo.

Christmas Fantasy silent auction ... A record of 114 silent auction items, like the ones pictured here, were donated to this year’s Christmas Fantasy. The Foundation expresses its appreciation to the hundreds of people who decorated or contributed in some way to make this community event so successful. Submitted photo.

The 2018 Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy was held last weekend, November 9-12 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon and was a huge success thanks to all of the overwhelming community involvement. A record number of auction items were donated to this year’s Fantasy by area businesses and individuals.  The 114 auction items were displayed and auctioned on a silent auction bid to the highest bidder Monday night at 7 p.m.

Trees on display during this 27th annual Foundation Fantasy highlighted 51 full size Christmas trees decorated by individuals, businesses and many groups around the area. Five items were also donated to the Foundation for their use in a raffle. A free year membership to the Waukon Wellness Center was donated by the Wellness Center Board, a beef meat bundle was donated by Fareway, a framed print was donated by the Foundation Board and two raffle prizes of a half hog each were donated by Welsh Family Organic Farms with  the processing donated by Jet’s Meats and Iowa Rotocast Plastics.

The event was 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, Gail Prestemon, Jeanette Ruegnitz, Nona Sawyer, Nancy Schoh, Breanna Sommer, Matt Teslow and Kay Zimmerman, assisted by Kim Sylvester, Pat Pettingill, Julie Thompson, Bob and Karen Swenson and Alyssa Gavin.