Historical February–March 2009 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Our 2008 Wintermarkt was well attended with nearly 30 vendors participating in a successful event.
This year featured a free raffle. offered prizes to attendees. Attendance prizes included free dinners at the Chinese Noodle Cafeon Delmar, and handmade jewelry by Gretchen Boxdorfer. Willie Herndon emceed the event. Our seven live musical performances opened with Skinker-DeBaliviere resident Mary Walsh and her brother Ian playing reels and songs on fiddle, flute, and other instruments.
The St. Roch Choir sang Christmas carols and other songs under the direction of Keith Ballentine. Three acapella groups from Washington University – the Mosaic Whispers, The Pikers, and The Amateurs – gave gave beautiful and entertaining performances. German accordionist Charles E. Block performed authentic German music and lively holiday tunes.
The St. Roch Chimers always draw a crowd. Under the direction of Regina Morris, these 7th and 8th grade St. Roch students played always draw a crowd with a fine selection of hand-chime music played by 7th and 8th grade St. Roch students. Thank you to Washington University for sponsoring the musical performances each year; they are a highlight of our Wintermarkt event.
The food booth had some new fare this year as Phil and Dan Lodholz included their knockout smoked ribs and chicken with their signature B.B.Q. sauce. Our classic Wintermarkt menu of bratwurst , hotdogs , gluhwein, and hot roasted chestnuts sold like hot cider on a c-o-l-d day. And family recipe German soups from the St. Louis Gast Haus sold in record time this year. Adults and children visited the blacksmith and rode on the horse-drawn carriage. Youngsters also visited the new children’s activity area to decorate holiday ornaments and listened to storytelling in the Sci-Fi Lounge. For the past three years, the West End Arts Council Wintermarkt Committee has offered a “Spirit of Wintermarkt Award” to the vendor whose booth best represents the character of these festivities.
This year the award was presented to Tru-Visions, a Junior Achievement endeavor.
They are an outgoing, and energetic group of collegebound young men and women with dedicated goals and positive attitudes. Tru-Vision, their popular booth, sold nearly all of the beautiful handmade jewelry that they had created for the event.
The West End Arts Council wishes to thank all who donated baked goods to the food booth, and all of the volunteers who worked to on the make Wintermarkt a success.
Original photograph caption
Patrick Mc Goarty — so cute!
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2009.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Original contains raffle. offered, gave gave, repeated St Roch Chimers clause and to on the make; preserve printed editing artifacts for review.
Original source: SD_Times2009_02.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
