Christmas in Ida: Festival celebrates 40 years
IDA – Organizers of Christmas in Ida are calling the 40th anniversary festival and parade of lights a “huge success, despite the 40 mile per hour windstorm Friday night.”
“The storm brought continuous high winds Friday night and Saturday morning demolished tents and equipment and caused the Ida High School Junior Class Auction to close early. However, in true small town holiday spirit, village residents and volunteers cleaned up the overnight storm devastation and returned the village of Ida into a Christmas wonderland that welcomed record crowds,” organizers said.
Christmas in Ida took place Dec. 2-3.
“We had a rough start Saturday morning with several venues being delayed or canceled, such as the early afternoon entertainment shows. High winds delayed the stage from being set-up on time,” Dale W. Zorn, executive director, said.
More than 18,000 attended the headliner concerts, featuring Diamond Rio.
Grantham Nelson and Ashley Burger, representing the Ida High School Student Council, were crowned the 2022 Christmas in Ida Prince and Princess. They reigned over the festival and parade of lights. Ashley is the daughter of Eric and Stacey Burger, and Grantham is the son of Ryan and Andrea Nelson
A total of 126 units entered the parade, with 102 entries being judged on creativity, originality and appearance.
“The parade of lights was one of the largest and most beautiful in the 40 years of production,” Bob Knabusch, parade chairman, said.
The Parade of Lights Grand Prize award was won by Anita Dance Center. Backyard Products won Santa’s Pick Award. The special 40th Anniversary Agriculture Heritage Award was won by Duck’s Unlimited.
The winners of the divisional categories are: Agriculture Division: The Salenbien family; Non-Profit Division: Jeff and Tami Mentel; Commercial Division: Village Wealth Management; Festival Partner Division: Meijer Great Lakes Limited Partnership; Fire Department Division: Whiteford Volunteer Fire Department; Religious Division: Prince of Peace Lutheran Church; School Division: Dundee FFA; 4-H Club Division: Stable Way Miniature Horses, and Lawn & Garden Tractor and Go Kart: Sumpter Mini Bikes.
Receiving honorable mention awards were: Masserant Farms, Mathe Farms, Lazy Pacers, Coffman, Laemmel and Lingar families, Buggy Nation, Boy Scouts 597 of Newport, DTE Energy, Northwest Mini Bike, Ann Arbor Railroad and Gotha Earthworks.
Winners of the third-annual Holiday Sled Race, were: First: Monroe County Community College; second, Bedford Lions, and third: Ida Student Council.
Winners of the 15th Holiday Hounds on Parade were: Most Adorable and Royal Hound: Dean, a black beauty puppy from Monroe County Animal Control; Most Mammoth: Monty, an Irish Wolfhound owned by Jo Lemanski of Dundee; Tiniest : Daisy, a Monroe County Animal Control adoptee Shipoo, owned by Michele Paled of Monroe; Most Vocal: Dachshund puppies in a wagon owned by Tim Labudie of Maybee; Waggiest Tail: Whitley, a Bernedoodle owned by Lenah Webb of Monroe, and Best Dog Pulling a Cart: Bink and Bo, Flat Coated Retrievers owned by Nicole Kubesh of Temperance.
More than 5,000 visitors attended the indoor craft and vendor shows held at the Ida Public Schools and the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Once and Again Home Boutique of Carleton received Best of Show at the Ida High School Craft Show. Jean Bessert won Best Show at the Prince of Peace Church Craft Show.
Creative Cousins LLC received the Ida Christmas Mall Best of Show.
Winners of the third-annual Art on the Avenue juried artist show were: Professional division: LeAnn Harbaun of Erie, and Amateur division: Sacha Thebolt of Dundee. The canvas paintings are available for purchase by contacting (734) 269-6017 or submitting an email through the Christmas in Ida website.
More than 400 young artists made an ornament in the Children’s Christmas Ornament Make and Take event.
The Residential Light Up the Town home decorating contest was won by Doree Whitaker. Diana Mcglathery was the runner-up. Gino’s Pizza received the business decorating award.
The Parade of Lights can be seen in its entirety throughout the Christmas season.
D & P Communications Channel 21 is showing the parade at noon and 5 p.m. daily. MPACT Charter Communications Channel 187 is running the parade at 2 p.m. Wednesdays and at 7 p.m. Saturdays. The parade also can be viewed on Buckeye Bedford and Toledo Channel 69, Comcast Dundee Channel 18 and Comcast Channel 21. It also is available at https://youtu.be/C35HirXs_TU.
Christmas in Ida is organized by 1,200 volunteers. To join the organization, call (734) 269-6175. The 41st event is planned for Dec. 1-2; planning begins in January.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Christmas in Ida festival celebrates 40 years
