By Debbie Adams
The Vinton History Museum and Historical Society has entered the Hotel Roanoke Fashions for
Evergreens competition for the fourth time. The annual event is a fundraiser for the United Way
of Roanoke Valley. This year over two dozen businesses and organizations from across the
Roanoke Valley are participating.
Hotel Roanoke Fashions for Evergreens competition are (from left) Julie Tucei, Millie Stewart,
Ann Anderson, Linda Kreider, Judy Kelley, Shaye Hicks, Judy Cunningham, Mary Beth
Layman, and Debra McKinney. (photos by Debbie Adams)
The museum won second place in the first try in 2021 with a tree decorated with Victorian
ornaments which had been donated to the museum. Being a winner in the 2021 competition put
them on the list of participants for subsequent years.
The next year, the museum’s tree featured dogwood flowers, paying tribute to the town’s Vinton
Dogwood Festival.
Last year’s tree, “Treedazzled,” was decorated with ornaments made from handmade crocheted
doilies and costume jewelry.
After the 2023 competition ended, JulieTucei, who serves on the board of the Vinton Historical
Society and “loves Christmas,” almost immediately began planning for the 2024 version of their
tree.
Her concept involved Santa’s – lots of Santas on, under, and around the tree. History Museum
volunteers asked for donations of Santas, scrounged at thrift stores and yard sales, and even
purchased some.
When volunteers arrived at the Hotel Roanoke on November 24 to decorate, they had literally
hundreds of Santas, maybe more, of all shapes, forms, and sizes with them. They had so many,
they couldn’t all fit on, or even around, the tree in the space they were allotted and returned them
to storage for another time.
Volunteers for the decorating included Tucei, Museum Executive Director Judy Cunningham,
Jim Cunningham, Ann Anderson, Shaye Hicks, Judy Kelley, Alice King, Linda Kreider, Mary
Beth Layman, Thomas Layman, Aaron Layman, Debra McKinney, Becky Miller, Rachel
Overstreet, Ronnie Renick, Tobbie Russeau, Doug Sowers, Millie Stewart, Annabelle Teague,
and Sean Teague.
ornament on the Santa Tree at Hotel Roanoke.
They met at the hotel at noon, decorated the top of the tree provided by Hotel Roanoke and then
the tree was lifted onto the Hokie stone ledge. Now on ladders, they added lights, followed by
the host of Santas, each one carefully placed, finishing up around 5 p.m.
In addition to decorating the tree, each organization creates a display surrounding the tree.
Vinton’s features more Santas – dancing Santas, bell-ringing Santas, a Western Santa, a ladder
full of Santas, bedazzled Santas, antique Santas, and even more.
Museum’s Santa Tree at Hotel Roanoke.
The Fashions for Evergreens trees will be on display at the hotel during the holiday season from
Thanksgiving Day through New Year’s Day. The community is encouraged to tour the hotel to
see each tree and vote for their favorite with a monetary donation which benefits the United Way
and the families and non-profit partners served by the organization.
The People’s Choice winner is announced on New Year’s Day and is considered quite an honor.
Those unable to attend may vote online after viewing photos of the trees.
One of the benefits of being invited to participate in the Fashions for Evergreens event is the
publicity it can bring to your cause or organization. Participants leave brochures near their trees,
to make the public aware of what they do and where they are located.
Mark Frye, owner of Creative Occasions Events, Flowers, and Gifts on Lee Avenue in Vinton,
has participated in the Fashions for Evergreens competition for many years. This year he is again
in charge of all the holiday designs and decorations at the hotel, including decorating the huge
lobby tree, and the tree for his own business, which is always spectacular.
Be sure to stop by the Hotel Roanoke during the holidays and vote for a Vinton tree, or vote online at https://www.hotelroanoke.com/the-holidays-2024/fashions-for-evergreens/.
