By Chris Spangler
Downtown Fort Atkinson was bustling Saturday as shoppers visited the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Holiday Open House and Market.
The event featured merchants selling farm-related and art/craft products at Feather Your Nest, the Café Carpe, the Fort Atkinson Club and Big Bluestem Market Collective.
Receipts from purchases at chamber retailers that day served as entries in a “Giant Red Box Giveaway” drawing.
An outdoor receptacle is located at the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce office, 244 N. Main St., where those wishing to participate in the drawing may drop off their receipts. Customers also may digitally submit photos of their receipts by email to tourismfort@gmail.com or text message to 920-563-3210.
Purchases made from participating merchants will be used to support the “Merchants Making a Difference” program. This year’s recipient of program proceeds is Jefferson County Christmas Neighbors.
Christmas Neighbors collects and campaigns for donations of new and “gently used” toys and clothing items, in addition to food, for Jefferson County families.
It is accepting donations of new and used toys, new blankets, and new scarves and mittens for the distribution.
Donations can be dropped off through Dec. 13 at all PremierBank and Badger Bank locations, Fort Community Credit Union in Fort Atkinson, and County-City Credit Union in Jefferson.
Persons who are able to help with a monetary donation may send it to P.O. Box 177, Jefferson, WI, 53549 or donate via PayPal at www.christmasneighbors.org.
Last year, Jefferson County Christmas Neighbors provided assistance to more than 650 families and over 1,700 children in the county.
Above two photos: Horses, at top, prepare to pull a wagon filled with holiday shoppers who stopped to visit with Santa. Once filled with passengers, including the jolly ole elf and Mrs. Claus, the wagon, which was sponsored by Badger Bank and supplied by Johnson Creek-based Farmington Express LLC, preceded though the downtown area. In the wagon, pictured above, holiday event-goers enjoyed a festive tour of the downtown area.
Members of the Fort Atkinson High School Orchestra perform holiday carols.
Children are greeted by Santa and Mrs. Claus. The photo opportunity was presented Saturday as part of the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce annual Holiday Open House and Market. During the event, siblings, Zayden, at top, and Myla Bannister each have a photo taken with the Yuletide couple.
Tobias Dyson, Fort Atkinson, Enjoys a cookie while waiting to take a horse-drawn wagon ride with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The ride was one of many activities provided Saturday as part of the downtown area holiday shopping event.
Fort Atkinson resident Lori Becker, at right, an independent stylist with ColorStreet Nails, engages in a shopping transaction Saturday at First Congregational United Church of Christ’s holiday mini-market.
Robert Knapp and Sue Buell, both seated, sell First Congregational United Church of Christ’s “Famous Congregational Peanuts,” during Saturday’s holiday mini-market. The peanuts, which are being purchased by Kathy Vogel, standing, at center, and Maureen Brandenburg, are made using a recipe that was originally created by the church in 1952.
Shelly Pitzl, Hebron, views crafts Saturday at the Homemade by Hambly booth. It was located in Feather Your Nest as part of the chamber of commerce’s holiday market.
Tracey Novak, Sullivan, at right, buys baked goods from Broadway Bakers owners Bridget Foerster, Fort Atkinson, at left, and Holly Skretta, Jefferson. The booth was located in the Big Bluestem Market Collective next to Fatboyz.
Dawn Karges-Kiernan, a Fort Atkinson native and Whitewater resident, at left, sells jewelry to Wendy Tanguay, at right, and Melody Lueck, both of Fort Atkinson. Karges-Kiernan is owner of Tumbled by the Waves, creating recycled jewelry and art out of sea glass, sea pottery, beach pebbles and driftwood she finds on the shores of Lake Michigan. Her booth was at the Fort Atkinson Club Saturday.
Sisters and Whitewater residents Melody Bauschke, at table and from left, and Lilly Eisner, accompanied by their aunt, Hannah Myszkewicz, Whitewater, standing, at left, and mother, Destine Bauschke, peruse the colorful assortment of honey sticks offered for sale by Lake Mills-based Doug Jenks Honey. The booth was among vendors found Saturday in the Fort Atkinson Club.
Richmond resident Carol Sligting, at right, who owns a campsite at Jellystone Park south of Fort Atkinson, buys jam and cookies from the Rev. Mindy Valentine Davis, pastor of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Fort Atkinson. The church held its annual Cookie Walk Saturday.
Olivia and Juan Carlos Nava, both of Fort Atkinson, view art exhibited as part of the Fort Atkinson High School Senior Art Show. Art created by Olivia, a senior at Fort Atkinson High School, was among the pieces on display. The show was held Saturday as part of the holiday market.
Photos by Chris Spangler.
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