Hometown Christmas: Successful Event Raises Funds for the Paullina American Legion
Revelers gathered at Paullina’s American Legion on Friday, December 1st and Saturday, December 2nd for the annual Jingle & Mingle holiday cocktail party and Festival of Trees brunch. These events, part of the Paullina Chamber of Commerce’s annual Hometown Christmas celebration, not only entertained attendees but also successfully raised funds for the Paullina American Legion. Thanks to the generosity of local individuals and businesses as well as those from the surrounding communities, members of the planning committee were pleased to present a check for $7330.61 to representatives of the Legion Auxiliary. Those funds will be used to continue renovating the Legion building, specifically for upgrades to the kitchen.
The events began Friday night with the increasingly popular Jingle & Mingle cocktail party, held from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. This year’s theme was “Sparkles & Spirits,” with participants encouraged to wear their shiniest attire. Attendees were able to sample four specialty cocktails – Santa’s Comin’ In Hot, Oh Dasher!, the Salty Elf, and Cindy Lou Who Juice (an alcohol-free beverage) – then choose their favorite for a full-sized drink. During the cocktail party, guests used a jingle bell to cast their votes for their mixologist of choice. Congratulations to our new Mr. Jingles, Mike Hohbach and Marlin Sjaarda (and their team of Michelle Hohbach and Cheryl Sjaarda) who took the crown this year from three-time winner Marty Weber.
The cocktail party was followed up by a “Family Feud” competition from 8:00 – 10:00 pm. There were 18 spirited teams who competed in three rounds of 10 questions each, writing down their top three answers to the questions presented. Participants were served a light meal consisting of chili with a chili board of toppings and fixings. Contest coordinators (Amber Ebel and Sherri Wittrock) once again volunteered their time to create a fun, engaging game while Scott Ebel did an outstanding job as emcee. Thanks to volunteers Kari Kent, Adam Ebel, and Tim Wittrock for helping the competition run smoothly. After three rounds and a playoff, the top two teams went head-to-head for three questions to determine the winner. The 1st place prize of $200 went to team “Tangled Tinsel,” with the $100 prize for 2nd place going to the “Wassailers.” Both teams generously donated their winnings back to the fundraising efforts. Throughout the evening, donated items were auctioned to the highest bidders. Organizers were overwhelmed by the generosity and enthusiasm of the participating teams.
On Saturday morning, the 25th annual Festival of Trees brunch was held. Attendees were offered mimosas as they strolled through the beautifully decorated tables and holiday displays created by talented local businesses and individuals before the meal. The brunch of quiche, ham, potatoes, fruit, cheesecake, and coffee was served by the American Legion Auxiliary. Proceeds from this event along with the generous tips given were also donated to the fundraiser.
Mark your calendars and be sure to join us next year on December 6th and 7th, 2024. Follow us on Facebook (Paullina Festival of Trees) and Instagram (JingleAndMinglePaullina) for updates and information.