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Wintry chill can't slow Rockton's Christmas Walk
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| The Hansmeier family, of Roscoe, meet Santa Claus Sunday afternoon at the Rockton Christmas Walk. Pictured are Lori and Brian with their kids, Bryn, 5, and Brogan, 2. Staff photo by Ashley Rhodebeck |
By Ashley Rhodebeck
Daily News staff writer
ROCKTON - Santa Claus stayed busy this past weekend greeting children during Rockton's annual Christmas Walk.
By the time he met the Hansmeier family early Sunday afternoon, he already had 12 hours under his belt since Saturday.
Seated in an armchair near a decorated white Christmas tree, Santa readily gave 2-year-old Brogan and 5-year-old Bryn high-fives as their parents, Lori and Brian, watched.
The Roscoe family, which also attended the lighted parade Saturday night, was among those the wintry temperatures didn't scare away.
“People did come out,” Rockton Chamber of Commerce President Vicki Shott said. But, she added, the turnout was “a little bit less than we all anticipated.”
The Christmas Walk people attended wasn't the same event they experienced in 2007.
“This year we shook up the format quite a bit,” Shott said.
New events included Saturday night's teen lounge, which featured video games and live music at Rockton Community Center, and Sunday's talent show at Hononegah High School.
The Stateline's Got Talent sold about 200 pre-sale tickets and featured nearly 40 acts, including a magician, singers, dancers and, among others, a pianist.
Show organizer Jamie Christiansen said she and her two co-organizers Michelle Marella and Julie Mischler were talent-show amateurs but enjoyed putting the event together and especially liked watching rehearsals Sunday morning.
“It was emotional,” Christiansen said, adding it made her “that much more excited” for the show.
About an hour before the show was set to begin, Janice Carrison roamed the craft show at Christmas at the Commons, 330 E. Main St., hoping her 17-year-old daughter fighting a sore throat would be OK to sing in the competition.
As chairman for Christmas at the Commons, Carrison spent most of her weekend there and organized the new tree decorating contest.
“It was really a lot of fun,” Carrison said, showing off the first-place tree decorated by Hair of the Dog.
While some craft vendors were disappointed their items weren't selling well, Rockford resident Ellen Roskopp didn't mind.
“It's not just about selling things,” she said. “It's about the atmosphere and Christmas spirit. You can just feel it in here. It's just nice. It's what a craft show should be.”
To the west, dozens gathered in Talcott Free Library for its book sale and annual Chocolate for the Soul event as Prairie Hill School students performed holiday music.
Proceeds will benefit the library. Its Director Bonnie Estrada said residents can further support the library by adopting a book. Each adopted book will contain a nameplate to honor someone. The deadline is Dec. 22.
Lighted parade float winners
Individual - Little Miss Winnebago County Fair Queen
Large business - Blackhawk Transport
Small business - Miss Andrea's Dance Factory
Nonprofit - 4-H
Presidential Award - Finnegans' RV
By the time he met the Hansmeier family early Sunday afternoon, he already had 12 hours under his belt since Saturday.
Seated in an armchair near a decorated white Christmas tree, Santa readily gave 2-year-old Brogan and 5-year-old Bryn high-fives as their parents, Lori and Brian, watched.
The Roscoe family, which also attended the lighted parade Saturday night, was among those the wintry temperatures didn't scare away.
“People did come out,” Rockton Chamber of Commerce President Vicki Shott said. But, she added, the turnout was “a little bit less than we all anticipated.”
The Christmas Walk people attended wasn't the same event they experienced in 2007.
“This year we shook up the format quite a bit,” Shott said.
New events included Saturday night's teen lounge, which featured video games and live music at Rockton Community Center, and Sunday's talent show at Hononegah High School.
The Stateline's Got Talent sold about 200 pre-sale tickets and featured nearly 40 acts, including a magician, singers, dancers and, among others, a pianist.
Show organizer Jamie Christiansen said she and her two co-organizers Michelle Marella and Julie Mischler were talent-show amateurs but enjoyed putting the event together and especially liked watching rehearsals Sunday morning.
“It was emotional,” Christiansen said, adding it made her “that much more excited” for the show.
About an hour before the show was set to begin, Janice Carrison roamed the craft show at Christmas at the Commons, 330 E. Main St., hoping her 17-year-old daughter fighting a sore throat would be OK to sing in the competition.
As chairman for Christmas at the Commons, Carrison spent most of her weekend there and organized the new tree decorating contest.
“It was really a lot of fun,” Carrison said, showing off the first-place tree decorated by Hair of the Dog.
While some craft vendors were disappointed their items weren't selling well, Rockford resident Ellen Roskopp didn't mind.
“It's not just about selling things,” she said. “It's about the atmosphere and Christmas spirit. You can just feel it in here. It's just nice. It's what a craft show should be.”
To the west, dozens gathered in Talcott Free Library for its book sale and annual Chocolate for the Soul event as Prairie Hill School students performed holiday music.
Proceeds will benefit the library. Its Director Bonnie Estrada said residents can further support the library by adopting a book. Each adopted book will contain a nameplate to honor someone. The deadline is Dec. 22.
Lighted parade float winners
Individual - Little Miss Winnebago County Fair Queen
Large business - Blackhawk Transport
Small business - Miss Andrea's Dance Factory
Nonprofit - 4-H
Presidential Award - Finnegans' RV
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