Established in 2014

Christmas in Crestwood began as just an idea... a group of residents brainstorming beautification ideas noted that they would need to wait until spring to start their projects. But Sue Bremehr uttered, “Why wait?” Then wheels started turning and plans were set in motion for the Christmas Tree to be Crestwood’s Winter flower.

Jump to: | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |

2014 begins with just five volunteers and two events — the Crestwood Holiday Tree Decorating Contest and the main event called Crestwood’s Favorite Santa is Coming to Town! event (which later changed to the Santa is Coming to Crestwood! event.

• Started the tradition of decorating City Hall and leaving the decorations up until after New Year’s Day
• Handmade holiday decorations were crafted by Crestwood Elementary school students
• The first and only major sponsor was Environmental Heating and Cooling
• After years of providing a home for the original Crestwood Mall Santa, Spectrum Eyeglass Repair joined with Christmas in Crestwood to bring Santa to City Hall
• Approximately 90 children and 200 adults participated in the Santa is Coming to Crestwood! event. Special thanks went to Spectrum Eyeglass Repair and Crestwood Walgreens for sponsoring photo packages.
• Proceeds from photos with Santa went to Toys for School Kids, and toys were collected for them as well
• Businesses provided contents for 100 goody bags for children
• 48 Crestwood businesses displayed a holiday tree for the Crestwood Holiday Tree Decorating Contest
• Weekly gift basket drawings for rating decorated trees value $100-$300

2015 sees expanded growth in volunteers, sponsors, and participants. Its two main events continued for a second year — the Crestwood Holiday Tree Decorating Contest and Santa is Coming to Crestwood! event. In addition:

• On July 24th, Santa visits City Hall and Mayor Roby to invite Crestwood children to the 2015 Christmas in Crestwood Celebration
• In addition to more than tripling our number of volunteers, graphic artist, Paula Kapfer (Spicy Graphics), joined as a volunteer and created our logo, new look, and all our printed material
• Banners designed by Paula and sponsored by Beautify Crestwood are hung on light poles along Watson and Sappington Roads
• Along with Environmental Heating and Cooling, three more major sponsors were added: Streib Company, Crestwood Walgreens, and OfficeMax
• Walgreens starts attaching our Santa is Coming to Crestwood! flyers to prescriptions when they are picked up
• Approximately 140 children and 300 adults participated in Santa is Coming to Crestwood!
• Handmade decorations were crafted by Crestwood Elementary School and Long Elementary School students
• A food collection for the Prince of Peace community food pantry is added to the Santa event
• Pauline Books & Media donates a children’s gift basket to the Santa is Coming to Crestwood! event
• 69 Crestwood businesses displayed a holiday tree for the Crestwood Holiday Tree Decorating Contest
• Christmas in Crestwood Director, Sue Bremehr, was named Citizen of the Year by the Crestwood/Sunset Hills Chamber of Commerce for Christmas in Crestwood’s work in promoting Crestwood businesses. Following this achievement, Sue received congratulatory recognition from Missouri State Congresswoman Ann Wagner.
• Grand prize was added to the Crestwood Holiday Tree Decorating Contest — visit all 69 participating businesses, rate the tree, and get a manager signature on a special form to be entered into a prize drawing with a value of $1,890
• Weekly gift basket drawings for rating trees value $600-$700 per basket
• Worked with City Hall to establish a Business Holiday Guide on the City of Crestwood website
• “Your House Looks Great!” door hangers are hung on residences decorated for the holidays

2016 major sponsors continue to grow and bigger, bolder events are added. Along with the traditional Crestwood Holiday Tree Decoration Contest and the Santa is Coming to Crestwood! event, new sponsors and volunteers helped us add the Classic Santa Car Cruise, the Car Show and Fireworks, and the “Your House Looks Great!” Door Hanger Blitz. In addition:

• Entrance and exit banners were displayed at the four main entrances/exits to Crestwood
• Vicki Palmer joined Sue Bremehr and Mary Berkholtz in coordinating and planning the Santa is Coming to Crestwood! event. Eventually, Vicki took over the Coordinating, assembling, and distribution of the goody bags as well as distributing CinC information to the schools.
• Approximately 175 children and 400 adults participate in Santa is Coming to Crestwood!
• Handmade holiday decorations are crafted by Crestwood Elementary School and Long Elementary School students and area private schools students (Holy Cross Academy, Christ Community Lutheran School, and St. Justin Martyr)
• The Classic Santa Car Cruise is created (organized by Rosann Shannon) and added to the Santa is Coming to Crestwood! event
• 96 Crestwood businesses displayed a holiday tree for the Crestwood Holiday Tree Decorating Contest and home-based businesses were invited to display their trees at Whitecliff Community Center
• Weekly gift basket drawings for rating decorated trees value $600-$700 per basket, and for visiting and rating trees for at least 50 participating businesses, the grand prize basket value reaches $2,500
• City Hall expanded the Business Holiday Guide on the City of Crestwood website
• Despite a change in plans due to inclement weather, additional volunteers helped distribute over 1,000 “Your House Looks Great!” door hangers
• Jason Gallahue, owner of Fairway Automotive, partnered with us to establish the first Car Show and Fireworks Display for a kickoff weekend the first Saturday in December which included Santa being chauffeured around Crestwood by Bob and Anne Goodwillie in a Willys Jeepster greeting and gifting children along the route
• Coffee and Cupcakes with Christmas in Crestwood was held on April 8th
• Christmas in Crestwood sponsored Cocktails and Community Volunteer Fair on July 25th at The Barn Restaurant which included several Crestwood non-profits; Karen Mott, The Barn proprietor, and Chef Tim provided complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres
• Pastor lunches with the Crestwood Mayor are established to connect area churches with helping support citizen needs in Crestwood

2017 sees further expansion of contributors, supporters, and participants as well as some recognition throughout the community. The number of events also increases to include the Holiday Tree Decorating Contest and the Crestwood Holiday Lights House Decorating Contest, the Santa is Coming to Crestwood! event, the Classic Santa Car Cruise, the “Your House Looks Great!” Door Hanger Blitz (which lists our events), the Car Show and Fireworks (launched from St. Elizabeth’s of Hungary Church ball field), and a Holiday Guide on the City’s website. In addition:

• On January 24, the City of Crestwood presented Christmas in Crestwood with a Proclamation
• In May, Christmas in Crestwood receives the MuniAward for Citizen Engagement and Civic Spirit from the Municipal League of Metro St. Louis
• Mayor Gregg Roby and the Board of Alderman proclaim December 2, 2017 to be “Santa Ted Day” in the City of Crestwood
• Added new logos designed by Paula Kapfer (Spicy Graphics) for each Christmas in Crestwood event
• Approximately 200 children participated in Santa is Coming to Crestwood!
• Handmade holiday decorations are crafted by Crestwood Elementary School and Long Elementary School students and area private schools students (Holy Cross Academy, Christ Community Lutheran School, and St. Justin Martyr)
• The Classic Santa Car Cruise greeted and gifted children along a published route and Santa led the way in a Willys Jeepster followed by a string of amazing vehicles
• 103 Crestwood businesses displayed a holiday tree for the Crestwood Holiday Tree Decorating Contest
• Weekly gift basket drawings for rating decorated trees value $750-$1,200, and by visiting 50 of the participating businesses to find the secret word tacked on the ballot box, the top 10 contestant (based on the greatest number of entries) are entered into a grand prize drawing valued at $3,175
• 42 houses participated in the first Holiday Lights House Decorating Contest with over 1,000 votes cast
• “Your House Looks Great!” Door Hanger Blitz morphs into door hangers that list our events; Boy Scouts help distribute door hangers to ALL Crestwood residents
• Christmas in Crestwood purchased an advertising insert in the South County Times which was distributed to 5,625 residences and which listed all of the events and donors as well as all the businesses participating in the Crestwood Holiday Tree Decorating Contest
• Home-based businesses are included in the Crestwood Holiday Tree Decorating Contest and displayed at Whitecliff Community Center
• Christmas in Crestwood purchases new decorations for City Hall

2018 was the fifth anniversary of Christmas in Crestwood and is welcomed with growing enthusiasm. Events include Holiday Tree Decorating Contest and the Crestwood Holiday Lights House Decorating Contest, the Santa is Coming to Crestwood! event, the Classic Santa Car Cruise, the third annual Car Show, fireworks, Christmas In Crestwood Radio, Christmas Madrigal Concert with the Greenleaf Singers at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, and a Holiday Guide on the City’s website. In addition:

• The Barn Restaurant hosted our first Business Mingle with a Christmas Jingle on July 25th to connect Crestwood businesses to each other and to City Staff
• Through the support and encouragement of Christmas in Crestwood, the group of local pastors meeting since 2016 to support Crestwood residents and leaders takes on the formal name of Crestwood Churches Care.
• The kick-off event in December at City Hall was packed as children and families enjoyed activities and snacks while they waited for photos with Santa
• 42 volunteers came together to make the kick-off event and December activities a success
• Handmade holiday decorations are crafted by Crestwood Elementary School and Long Elementary School students and area private schools students (Holy Cross Academy, Christ Community Lutheran School, and St. Justin Martyr)
• The Classic Santa Car Cruise made its way from St. Elizabeth through Ward 3 along Lodge Pole Lane to its destination at Fairway Automotive
• A fireworks display by Brilliant Skies Fireworks and fully-sponsored by Streib Company is launched from St. Elizabeth’s of Hungary Church ball field
• Houses across Crestwood participated in the Holiday Lights House Decorating Contest (divided by Ward) and finalists from each Ward were posted on Facebook for the final overall voting
• Over 100 Crestwood businesses participate in the Crestwood Holiday Tree Decorating Contest in 11 categories, and top finalists were posted on Facebook for the People’s Choice award
• Weekly gift basket drawings for rating decorated trees value $810-$836, and by visiting 60 of the participating businesses to find the secret word tacked on the ballot box, the top 10 contestant (based on the greatest number of entries) are entered into a grand prize drawing valued at $5,627 — in honor of Christmas In Crestwood’s five-year anniversary we aimed for a $5,000 prize value
• New this year: Christmas in Crestwood Radio hosted by the St. Louis Classic Rock Preservation Society launches for the first time and is heard by people in 29 states including Washington D.C. and in 13 countries/regions around the world including Brazil, Chile, England, France, Germany, Israel, Russia, and Spain — 31 businesses and City officials participated by requesting five Christmas/Holiday songs, and as the songs played on the internet radio station, the requester’s logo appeared on the station list
• Lynn Teller and Angela Sebben start us on our journey in the 21st-century technology
• Christmas In Crestwood donates funds for a major equipment purchase to the Crestwood Fire Department enabling the launch of their new Project Lifesaver program

2019 was our biggest year and included a venue change, expanded participation, and new events and activities. Events include Crestwood Business Holiday Decorating Contest and the Crestwood Holiday Lights House Decorating Contest, the Santa is Coming to Crestwood! event, the Classic Santa Car Cruise with Santa Stops, fireworks, Christmas In Crestwood Radio, and Christmas Madrigal Concert with the Greenleaf Singers at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. In addition:

• On July 25th, The Barn Restaurant hosted our Business Mingle with a Christmas Jingle to connect Crestwood business to each other and have a chance to converse with City officials in a relaxed and festive atmosphere
• Due to the water main break and flooding of City Hall on August 10, Santa’s arrival in Crestwood would need to find a new home. The traditional kick-off events were relocated to St. Elizabeth’s of Hungary Catholic Church (across the street). With the larger space, we were able to expand the event.
• In addition to collecting for Toys for School Kids and the Prince of Peace food pantry, we also collected for Project Livesaver
• Due to the fact that event decorations needed to come down quickly after the event, holiday decorations were only provided by St. Elizabeth’s Home School group
• We were able to publish news of the events and the venue change to over 76,000 households thanks to the support of the Times Newspaper and Grabber School of Hair Design
• The kick-off event included photos with Santa, a “Main Street” of business-sponsored family activities, “Santa’s Workshop” full of activities and crafts for kids, and areas with games, face painting, and balloon animals; outdoors there was a bounce house and food trucks
• The Classic Santa Car Cruise wheeled its way through the nearby neighborhood with “Santa Stops” near Rayburn and Spellman Parks
• The traditional tree decorating contest transformed into the Crestwood Business Holiday Decorating Contest went “high-tech” for the first time using an on-line voting mechanism accessed using QR codes — business patrons were given the opportunity to rate overall decorations, not just trees this year, and 105 businesses participated
• A fireworks display by Brilliant Skies Fireworks and fully-sponsored by Streib Company is launched from St. Elizabeth’s of Hungary Church ball field
• This year we introduced a scavenger hunt where clues were released on our Facebook page and the City’s website for twelve days — each clue led the participant to a business in Crestwood where they needed to accomplish a task (like counting the number of elephants or snapping a photo), and once they completed all the clues, they submitted their answers and were entered into a drawing for a grand prize worth $3,000
• Christmas in Crestwood Radio continues and is heard by people in 23 states including Washington, D.C. and in 11 countries around the world — the internet radio station is home to nine different stations and on average, during the month, Christmas in Crestwood Radio ranked fifth in popularity this year

2020 has setbacks and challenges due to COVID-19, but volunteers think outside the “gift” box to develop safe and fun events and activities and spread Crestwood spirit all the way to the end of the year. Events included:

• A Children’s Essay Writing Contest with the theme “My Favorite Holiday Tradition/Experience.” There were three age categories. The K-3rd Grade category won a bowling pizza party at Crestwood Bowl and free concretes from Crestwood Culver’s. The 4th-6th Grade category won a 10-Race package from Victory Raceway plus a $50 gift certificate to Crestwood Applebee’s. The 7th-12th grade category won a 10-Race package from Victory Raceway plus a $50 gift certificate to Crestwood Imo’s. The judges for the Essay Contest were the City Administrator, the Mayor, and the Aldermen.
• The Where’s Santa? Photographic Scavenger Hunt encouraged participants to explore Crestwood in the most COVID-friendly way. Each Thursday beginning November 12th, Clue Photos were provided. The object was to review the Clue, figure out where Santa was in the image, go to the location, replicate the clue with the participant replacing Santa, and submit the new photo as the contest entry. There were 47 Clue Photos in total, representative of Crestwood’s incorporation as a Village in 1947. Participants were encouraged to be creative, too, and many of them dressed up in costumes. A singular prize was giving to the Most Creative Team (as judged by Jollification Specialists and Santa himself). For every Clue that was successfully found, participants earned an entry into a prize drawing. For finding all 47 Clues there was a Grand Prize package of good and services from Crestwood business (valued at $3,000). Everyone who found at least 24 Clues qualified for the Basic Prize package (valued at $870) of goods and services from Crestwood businesses.
• In a collaboration with Spectrum Eyeglass Repair, we sold special commemorative “Crestwood’s Favorite Santa” ornaments as a fundraiser.
• The Shop Crestwood for the Holidays receipt contest encouraged area residents to shop local and keep their holiday dollars within Crestwood. For every $200 in receipts, participants earned a chance into a prize drawing worth over $1,600.
• We also expanded the Shop Crestwood contest with a special “Dine Crestwood” contest, to specifically help keep our restaurants floating during harder times related to COVID. Any $5 or more receipt to any Crestwood restaurant also counted towards the specific Dine Crestwood prize.
• The Classic Santa Car Cruise (combining the traditional car cruise with the Santa is Coming to Crestwood! events) had a 2.5-mile route through Crestwood neighborhoods both north and south of Watson Road and west of Sappington Road. The route crossed Watson Road twice (at Greenwood and Sturdy) as it made it’s loop out and back to St. Raymond-St. Elizabeth Maronite Catholic Church.
• The Goody Bag Exchange Food Drive provided goody bags filled with donations from Crestwood businesses to every child who donated at least five non-perishable items. We collected over 2,500 items, which were donated to the pantries at St. Raymond-St. Elizabeth Maronite Catholic Church and the First Baptist Church of Crestwood. Most of the total was collected on December 5th, but some of it was collected at the Crestwood Culver’s and America’s Best Contact & Eyeglasses location in Crestwood. America’s Best also continued their food collected several months into 2021.
• Once again, a fireworks display by Brilliant Skies Fireworks and fully-sponsored by Streib Company is launched from the St. Raymond-St. Elizabeth Maronite Catholic Church ball field. There were also many additional places to view the display and several nearby parking lots were full including City Hall, Crestwood Elementary, Kohls, Watson Plaza (where the Shop-n-Save was), and Crestwood Commons (Schnucks).
• While we couldn’t include photos with Santa as part of our traditional kick-off, we supported Spectrum Eyeglass Repair’s specially-designed photos with Santa (held in the former Tuesday Morning location in Watson Plaza) which allowed for appropriate social distances.
• Christmas in Crestwood Radio filled the internet airwaves once again from December 1st through December 31st. Hosted by the St. Louis Classic Rock Preservation Society, Crestwood businesses, organizations, and City officials submitted their holiday music picks to build the playlist. The station is one of nine stations operating at www.StLouisClassicRock.com, 24/7 and commercial-free, and replaces the Route 66 station during the month of December. During the 2020 listening season, CinC Radio was heard in 33 states and 17 countries! And those who listened were able to see the names/logos of the businesses or organization who requested the song which also linked to their own website (if applicable).
• 2020 was also the first year Christmas in Crestwood had its own website (www.ChristmasInCrestwood.org). The website domain is hosted by the St. Louis Classic Rock Preservation Society. Angela Sebben built and maintains the website content. The website serves as a repository of event and contest information and is a great boost beyond just using our Facebook page to spread information.

2021, while slowly bouncing back from the effects of COVID-19, still held several unknowns which weighed heavily on planning for an event eight months into the future. Christmas in Crestwood decided to have a similar Celebration to the 2020 Celebration and continue to provide safe and fun events and activities and spread Crestwood spirit all the way to the end of the year. Sadly, though, this would be the first year without our favorite Santa. Always smiling and truely dedicated, Ted Ricks passed away in March. He was 86 and had been Crestwood’s favorite Santa for several decades, known to many when they visited Crestwood Mall as children.

• For the second year we hosted a Children’s Essay Writing Contest with the theme “A Holiday Jollification Story, Fact or Fiction”. The age categories and prizes were similar to 2020 and the judges for the Essay Contest were once again the City Administrator, the Mayor, and the Aldermen.
• The Where’s Santa? Photographic Scavenger Hunt had a new Santa this year. He excelled at his jolly appointment and proved himself to be Ted’s worthy successor.
• The Shop Crestwood for the Holidays contest returned with the “Dine Crestwood” component (though Dine Crestwood was not as heavily promoted).
• 107 Crestwood Businesses supported Christmas in Crestwood, the activities, and the contests this year. We would like to express special thanks to Streib Company for sponsoring the fireworks, Schnucks for donating items and prizes across all the contests, and several businesses for jumping in and really making a difference such as Sant Automotive and Tami’s Dugout.
• Our Car Cruise this year was 6.5 miles long and traveled through all four wards of Crestwood. This was a first for us and we appreciate the Police Department and Rosann Shannon for accomplishing a longer route this year that more residents could enjoy.
• We had great weather on December 4. The Big Day when Santa Comes to Crestwood also included food trucks and fireworks.
• That day, our Goody Bag Food Drive had a great goody bag for kids filled with items donated by 23 businesses. It collected 804 food items which were split between the pantries at First Baptist Church and St. Raymond-St. Elizabeth Church.
• The Food Drive continued throughout the end of the year with donation locations at eight businesses from one side of Crestwood to the other. They included America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, our Crestwood Culver’s, one of our newest businesses Stone Strength Systems, Planet Fitness, Plaza Health Dentistry, Victory Raceway, Watson Dental Associates, and Woodard Restoration. In total, the satellite locations collected 1,237 food items, bringing the total food items collected throughout the Celebration to 2,041.
• We worked with the Crestwood Parks & Rec Department to provide Pictures with Santa on December 11. It was a free event and parents used their own photo devices. Our two-and-a-half hour schedule filled up and everyone enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity.
• We once again had Christmas in Crestwood Radio from December 1 through December 31, hosted by the St. Louis Classic Rock Preservation Society.

Sadly, the 2021 Celebration was also overshadowed by the sudden death of our Founder and Director, Sue Bremehr, in September. However, all of the volunteers leaned in and kept the Celebration on track and maybe even made it shine just a little bit brighter. The fireworks display on December 4 was preceded by a small tribute to Sue.

In September 2021, there was a major leadership shift. Due to Sue Bremehr’s passing, Regina Massie and Angela Sebben stepped into the leadership roles to complete the 2021 Celebration season. In January, the volunteers made it official, and Regina was confirmed as the new CinC President, and Angela was confirmed as the new CinC Secretary/treasurer. Mary Berkholtz chose to step down from a main leadership role at the time of Sue’s passing, and in 2021 she was confirmed as the new liaison to the Crestwood Churches Care group, a sub-affiliation group of Christmas in Crestwood comprised of local church pastors. At the beginning of the year, Regina, Angela, and Lynn Teller were establish as the CinC Board of Directors. In June, the CinC Board of Directors was expanded to five and Vicki Palmer and Jessica Crawford were confirmed to the Board.

2022 planning began right away in January. In March, after a two-year hiatus we once again hosted a Business Mingle with a Christmas Jingle to provide an opportunity for them to socialize with fellow Crestwood business leaders as well as City leaders. The Mingle, which took place at Woodard Restoration’s new headquarters in Crestwood, is also our way of thanking our businesses for continued support of Christmas in Crestwood and commitment to the City of Crestwood. Also in 2022, Santa’s Winter Wonderland returned to the gym at St. Raymond-St. Elizabeth Church!

• For the third year in a row, our Celebration will began on November 12 in recognition of the City’s birthday. This coincided with the last major 75th Anniversary event of the year, a Trivia Night hosted by the St. Louis Classic Rock Preservation Society. During the event, the torch was passed and Christmas in Crestwood took up the call to finish Crestwood’s 75th Anniversary, incorporating the theme into the Boulevard Banners as well as the essay contest theme.
• For the Essay Contest’s third year we chose the theme “What I Love ABout Crestwood”. The judges for the Essay Contest were once again the City Administrator, the Mayor, and the Aldermen. The twist this year was that we added an adult category (18+). The prize packages were also bigger this year.
• The Where’s Santa? Photographic Scavenger Hunt reduced its number of Clues this year to just twelve.

• 86 Crestwood businesses, restaurants, and organizations supported Christmas in Crestwood, our activities, and our contests this year. We would like to express special thanks to Streib Company for sponsoring the fireworks, and to Schnucks for donating and participating across all the contests and activities.

• The Big Day, on December 3, when Santa Comes to Crestwood included our return to the indoor Winter Wonderland. Kids enjoyed creative activities in the Kids Workshop area, several businesses hosted tables on “Main Street”, clowns from the Moolah Shriners made balloon animals for the kids, Santa was available on the stage for pictures, Mrs. Claus joined in on the fun, outside families could grab a bite at the food trucks, and everyone who attended had a very special day. Later in the evening, fireworks lit up the skies above Crestwood.

• On December 3, our Goody Bag Food Drive exchanged non-perishable items for a bag brimming with items for kids donated by 22 businesses. It collected 652 food items which were split between the pantries at First Baptist Church and St. Raymond-St. Elizabeth Church.
• Our Santa Car Cruise this year was again a 6.5-mile-long route that traveled through all four wards of Crestwood with a slight variation from last year. It passed by three of Crestwood’s parks (Ferndale, Whitecliff, and Rayburn) and it made four “Santa Stops” along the way so Santa and Mrs. Claus could meet and greet children. There were approximately 45 vehicles in the Cruise. Santa and Mrs. Claus were escorted by Robert Goodwillie in his classic 1950 Willys Jeepster. Special thanks to the Police Department and Fire Department for their assistance in making this a great Car Cruise.
• The Satellite Food Drive took place between December 14 and 25 with donation locations at six businesses from one side of Crestwood to the other. They included America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, our Crestwood Culver’s, Great Clips, Jim Butler, Music & Arts, and Woodard Restoration. In total, the satellite locations collected 252 food items, bringing the total food items collected throughout the Celebration to 904.
• We once again had Christmas in Crestwood Radio from December 1 through December 31, hosted by the St. Louis Classic Rock Preservation Society.

Upcoming in 2023: Businesses should mark their calendars for Christmas in July when our Business Mingle with a Christmas Jingle returns to its Summer schedule. We are also reaching out this year to add volunteers to our ranks with a Open House meeting in April. Planning is underway this Spring for new events as well as for the Big Day when Santa is Coming to Crestwood on December 2, 2023.