Holiday Season

Thank you to our 2025
Santa Club!

The following people and organizations helped us make Hartford

sparkle for the Holidays in 2025

Angels

Lutz Family Charitable Trust

Hartford Business Improvement District

Hartford Foundation

Shining Stars

Ken & Kathy Mikulec

Hartford Woman's Club

Gold Ornaments

Forte Bank

Brewed Omen

Hartford Lions Club

Silver Ornaments

Salon Effervescence

Dodge Dental

Wacker Drive Logistics & Warehouse

Elves

Christine Wagner

John & Chris Kirley

Signworks

Santa's Helpers

Thanks to the City of Hartford Rec, Electric, and Public Works Departments

We are already thinking about 2026 Display!

All donations big and small help make this display wonderful. Donors belong to our "Santa Club" earning special recognition for their contributions in the following categories:

Santa Club Tiers

Santa's Helpers: $ 10 - $49 (or volunteer - see below)

Elves: $ 50 - $249

Silver Ornaments: $ 250 - $999

Gold Ornaments: $1000 - $1999

Shining Stars: $2000 - $2999

Angels: $3000+

We also honored donors of over $500 on a large sign at each of the 3 entrances to the area. Everyone else will be included on our website Santa Club.

Donate

Volunteer as a Santa's Helper

Aaron Lensink
Alex Broeske
Allen Brown
Amanda Ohm
Amy Swanson Kieser
Beth Malecki
Brandon Sielski
Carmen Arellano
Carol Tautges
Chris Wagner
Connie Thoma
Cynthia Bade
Dan Chipman
Denise Ehlert
Diane Young
Doris Gilligan
Doug Persich
Gary Heckendorf
Greg & Kathy Klink
Jacob Johnson
Jason Wix
Jean Iivari-Olson
Jeff & Terri Feutz
Joan Schnorenberg
Joanie Buettgen
Julie Regan
Julie Studener
Justin Downs
Karen Allen
Karen Davis
Katey & Tim Clarenbach
Kelly Paul

*We apologize if we missed naming any of Santa's Helpers!

Kathy Vogelsang
Katie McCauley
Kim Zills
Kris Tatem
Kristen Strupp
Laurie Whipple
Liz Linder
Lisa Becker
Lisa Mueller
Lori Sharp
Lynette Voss
Marcia Tinman
Mark Reglin
Marilyn Raschka
Martha Gritt
Mary Jo Beine
Nancy Zancig
Nate Wegener
Renee Ham
Rosenda Lazcano
Sarah Ann Nickel
Scott Davis
Sharon Indermuehle
Stacey Holzman
Sue Lisko
Tammy Tongusi
Terry Carmody
Todd Novotny
Tony Andereck
Wendy Christenson
Wendy Greyson
HUHS welding class who made new arbors!

It's a WRAP!!

Volunteers have completed wrapping the trees with lights.

VBH Volunteers were on site ready with lights for people to put on a tree. Together have created a quaint display that can be enjoyed with a lovely stroll around along the Riverwalk, around the millpond, and past Centennial Park.

We work with Rocket Lighting to light focal trees that require special touches and their lift to reach high in the branches. They complete all the electrical hookups and take down the entire display in January.

Thanks to all the volunteers who donated time to help with the 2025 display!

Memory Tree Lantern

Thank you to everyone who has sponsored a lantern this season!

The Memory Tree is created by members of the community who sponsor a lit lantern for $100 in memory of a loved one. The lanterns are included in a large beautiful display in our Memory Tree behind the library during Nov.8th - Jan.4th. We will have a sign below the tree with the names of all those being remembered. All proceeds help us fund the Riverwalk Lights project.

Downtown Decorations

Our volunteers transform our downtown for the holidays. We collect greens and other natural materials and decorate our urns for winter interest.

In 2021,VBH purchased lit wreaths and garlands for the lamp posts in the downtown area.

We partner with the High School on a Saturday morning in October and students come and volunteer their time to install the garlands and other décor. The kids are just amazing!

VBH adult volunteers install the wreaths because of the extra high ladder work.

The City of Hartford Utility Dept. helps by hanging all the wreaths along busy Hwy 60. At the end of the season the Utility Dept. comes and helps VBH volunteers take down all the wreaths and garlands and we store them away.