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 someone uttered, “Why wait?” Then wheels started turning and plans were set in motion for the Christmas Tree to be Crestwood’s Winter flower.

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. Click for more 2014 memories.

• 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 Santa is Coming to Crestwood! 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
• 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 begins coordinating the Santa is Coming to Crestwood! event
• 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 Willy’s 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 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 Will’s Jeepster followed by a string of amaizing 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
• The group Crestwood Churches Care is formed as local pastors come together to support Crestwood residents and leaders
• 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 cames 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, the traditional kick-off events were relocated to St. Elizabeth’s of Hungary Catholic Church (across the street) — the biggest challenge was to be able to fill the new space which was multiple times larger
• 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 include a Children’s Essay Writing Contest with the theme “My Favorite Holiday Tradition/Experience,” the Where’s Santa? Photographic Scavenger Hunt, the Shop Crestwood for the Holidays receipt contest, the Classic Santa Car Parade (combining the traditional car cruise with the Santa is Coming to Crestwood! events), the Goody Bag Exchange Food Drive, fireworks, and Christmas in Crestwood Radio.