FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – The Embassy has completed another year of the Festival of Trees, bringing “the magic of the season” to guests of all ages. Santa also stopped by and left a little extra holiday cheer for this year’s festival winners.
The 2021 festival award winners are:
First Place: Baby, It’s Cold Outside, sponsored by Shambaugh & Sons and decorated by Meghann Powers, Janice Kenline, and Katie Snyder
Second Place: Holiday Game Night, sponsored by Poorman’s Heating & Air and decorated by Cindy Friend
Third Place: Seasons of Fort Wayne, sponsored by The Journal Gazette and decorated by Dinah Gibson and Aja Michael-Keller
Honorable Mention: Magic of the Outdoors, sponsored by Wise Insurance and decorated by Heather Hoover and Darla Kaiser Best
Ornamentation: Francisco!, sponsored by Lowe’s and decorated by Kate’s Kart Best Tree Topper: Christmas Under Construction, sponsored by Bobcat and decorated by Ruby Moon Floral Best Use of Theme: I Love Magic!, sponsored by Cookie Cottage and decorated by Sarah Hodgin, Jenn Hodgin, and Maria Madden
The Embassy is thanking this year’s judges; John O’Connell, Dean & Professor of Theatre, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Purdue Fort Wayne; Emily Wagner, Sales Manager, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse; and Christopher Murphy, Assistant Director/ Director of Outreach, Fort Wayne Youtheatre.
Each year, attendees have the opportunity to vote for their favorite festival tree. The elves have tallied all of the votes, and the 2021 People’s Choice Award winners are:
First Place People’s Choice: Big Bird’s Magic of the Season, sponsored by PBS Fort Wayne and decorated by Lisa Rysiawa and Erin Arnold
Second Place People’s Choice: Welcome Home, sponsored and decorated by MBN Properties
Third Place People’s Choice: Home for the Holidays, sponsored and decorated by Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group
In addition, six people were winners at various raffles taking place throughout the festival.
Raffle winners were:
• STAR Bank money tree, winning the correctly guessed amount of money on the decorated tree: Daniel Schenkel of Fort Wayne
• Broadway at the Embassy tree, winning two tickets to Cats on Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m.: Angela Miller of Grabill
• HOT 107.9 Olivia Rodrigo tree, winning the decorated tree: Connie Bungard of Butler
• Partners First Federal Credit Union tree, winning the decorated tree: Jason Graf of Fort Wayne
• Peg Perego in Santa Land, winning a Peg Perego toy vehicle: Nora Figueroa of Fort Wayne
• Vera Bradley tree, winning Vera Bradley merchandise: Robert Mullins of Fort Wayne
This was the 37th year for the festival, which is a signature fundraising event for the nonprofit arts organization.