Can you guess who these two are? If you’re placing your bets on a famous couple from the North Pole, you are right! On Saturday, November 28th, Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at Hensler’s with great fanfare. The entrance to Hensler’s turns into a parade route on Saturday at 10 a.m. CST, and you’re invited to join us and line up along the lane.

Santa will arrive on one of the three fire trucks from Davis, Oregon, and Center Township. Mrs. Claus will greet all of the visitors as she arrives by horse-drawn carriage. You won’t want to miss it!

While the parade is on Saturday, we are ready and open for business on Friday the day after Thanksgiving. We have a beautiful crop of Christmas trees this year and loads of fresh greenery items.

We’re definitely getting into the Christmas spirit here at Hensler’s. With our Open House event this Sunday, we knew it was time to start rolling out our Christmas decor. This season is even more special to us as it is the year of Mrs. Claus. Many of you have been greeted by Mrs. Claus when you arrive at Hensler’s each year, and we’re honoring her with some new flags that line the Christmas Barn and wreath decorating building.

The elves are ramping up production on our greenery items. Continue reading this post to get a behind the scenes look at our hand-made kissing balls, mini-crosses and stars.
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You’re invited to our Christmas Fest Open House Sunday, November 15th. Mrs. Claus is hosting our event from 1pm – 4pm Central Time.

We’ll be serving refreshments while you get the first look at the unique decorations and gifts that we’re offering this year at Hensler’s during Christmas Fest. This year you’ll find some new items that you won’t want to miss as well as some Christmas favorites that you enjoy each year.

• Mini-crosses and Micro-crosses (new for 2009!)
• Single and double snowflakes (new for 2009!)
• Fontanini Nativiti collectables fully stocked with new items as well as discontinued/rare items 40% off
• Wreaths custom decorated for pick-up when you want
• Greenery items included grave pillows

Our local honey producer is a Starke County legend. According to Wayne Emigh “I just like to mess around with bees. I like to watch them.” This is a fellow you just have to meet!
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Fontanini Nativity Sale

Discounted items during Christmas Fest 2009

Looking for a great bargain? We have a 40% off limited sale on some of our Fontanini Nativity. The inventory includes a little more than 70 items that are either discontinued or no longer available in retail outlets. The majority of the figurines are the 5″ collectibles, although we do have a few in the 7 1/2″ size.

Items with the 40% off discount are available right now through Christmas. Stop by during Fall Fest and Christmas Fest, although you might want to hurry! Supplies are limited and we are not carrying large numbers of any specific figurine.

Download the PDF of the discounted items. We will not be updating this list, so keep in mind that items may sell out.

We have two new Fontanini items for 2009: Keturah and Nathanial. These Fontanini collectibles are available in our Christmas Barn, and the good news is that you don’t have to wait until Christmas to buy them. They’re available right now!

2009 Event Figure: 5″ Fontanini Keturah Young Girl

Depicts a young girl, Keturah, carrying a variety of fruit in her apron, done in soft pastel coloring. The hand-painting done to all of Fontanini’s figurines gives them a personal, finished touch.

Comes gift boxed and includes a story card. Actual Dimensions: 5″H x 2.5″L.

2009 Limited Edition: Fontanini 5″ Nathaniel, Shepherd with Animals Nativity Figurine

Depicts Nathaniel holding a sheep in his arms, with a donkey and ox at his feet. Beautifully sculpted and hand-painted by skilled, Italian artisans, this figurine’s quality reflects the many generations of talent behind the Fontanini name.

Comes gift boxed and includes a story card. Actual Dimensions: 5″H x 4.5″W.

Thank you to all who attended the Christmas Fest Open House here at Hensler’s on November 2nd. To help launch the Starke County Community Foundation’s Lights of Remembrance campaign, WKVI did an onsite broadcast from our wreath decorating building. The Starke County Community Choir was also here to help celebrate the launch of this fundraiser and delighted us with a live performance by the Christmas barn.

Mitch Markovitz and his son, Matthew, were also on hand to sign Mitch’s artwork. And if that wasn’t enough, visitors also enjoyed horse-drawn carriage rides through our 40-acre farm.

Visitors enjoyed horse-drawn carriage rides through the winding paths on our farm underneath a canopy of fall color.
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The Starke County Community Choir performed to help celebrate the launch of the Lights of Remembrance campaign.
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WKVI did a live broadcast in our wreath decorating building where they talked about the Lights of Remembrance campaign and interviewed Mrs. Claus about the activities we’re planning for this year’s Christmas Fest.
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Mitch Markovitz signed artwork that he created for Hensler Nursery. His son, featured in the illustration as Hensler’s Face of Fall, was also there to help Mitch with the signing.
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