Window Wonderland Contest Winners

The Downtown Neighborhood Association’s 11th Annual Window Wonderland contest, with the theme of “Home for the Holidays,” had record numbers of window entries with over 40 windows being decorated, up 25% from last year. This year’s window decorating contest winners are:

•People’s Choice Ribbon – Episcopal Church of the Redeemer for 25 S. Grove
•Most Creative Ribbon – Hampton, Lenzini, and Renwick for 50. S. Grove
•Most Thematic Ribbon – Southwest Area Neighbors for 51 S. Grove Avenue
•Best Paint Job Ribbon – Red Bar Winery & Bistro for 74 S. Grove Avenue
•Best Window Display Ribbon – Gifford Park Association for 164 E. Chicago
•Best Rediscovering Downtown Elgin Window Ribbon – Douglas Street Sports Bar & Grill for 231 Douglas
•Student – First Prize – NENA Kids for 8 Douglas Avenue
•Student – Second Prize - Episcopal Church of the Redeemer for 25 S. Grove •Open – First Prize – YWCA for 220 E. Chicago Street
•Open – Second Prize – Gifford Park Association for 164 E. Chicago Street
•Business – First Prize – Hampton, Lenzini, and Renwick for 50. S. Grove
•Business – Second Prize – Ravenheart Coffee at 176 E. Chicago Street.

Windows ranged from holiday nostalgia to winter scenes, to cozy vignettes to tropical holidays, and even displays made out of food. Windows may be viewed around Downtown Elgin until Christmas.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association’s event was sponsored in part by The City of Elgin, Country Financial, and Hampton, Lenzini, & Renwick. For further questions about Window Wonderland or the planning for this event in 2010 please call 847.488.1456.

Downtown Elgin’s Window Wonderland “Home for the Holidays” was one of many activities happening in and around downtown Elgin this past weekend and is part of the city-wide, nonprofit celebration of the holidays for the months of November and December. For further information go to www.elginhomefortheholidays.com