Merry Merchant Munch

EAGLE RIVER — Dozens of businesses participated in this year’s Merry Merchant Munch celebration, held the first weekend in December each year, on Friday and Saturday. Several hundred residents and visitors joined in the fun at the Winter Wonderland celebration that tops off the festivities on Friday, according ot the Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce.

Local school choirs serenaded festival goers, businesses hosted tables offering goodies, the Horse Drawn Carriage Company offered free carriage rides, and Santa and his reindeer made an appearance at 7 p.m. for the official tree lighting in Eagle River Town Square.

The Chamber thanked participating merchants, volunteers, Chugiak-Eagle River Parks & Recreation, and Eagle River Area Rotary for devoting their time and efforts to putting on this year’s Merry Merchant Munch.

Congratulations to all of the winners of this year’s Merry Merchant Munch contests.

Local businesses put on the holiday Ritz for the annual festival. First National Bank of Alaska won Hometown Holiday; Eagle River Homes & Realty won Classic Christmas; Feather Skin & Body Studio won Best Holiday Tree; Re/MAX Eagle River won Spirit of the Season; Lesley’s Cakes won Merriest Merchant; Rivers Edge Studio & Gift Gallery, Chugiak won Holiday Dreams; Cozy Interiors won Tastiest Sweet Treat; Gavin Rueb, Edward Jones Investments won Tastiest Savory Treat; Country Financial, Melissa Izatt won Festivus Favorite; Vibe Styling Salon won Winter Wonderland; and UAA Chugiak-Eagle River Campus won Jingle All the Way.

Winners of the Annual Gingerbread House Competition were Tessa Crall, first place, and Conner Casey, second place in the preschool division; Evangeline Vaona, first place, Olivia Vaona second place and Logan Thomas third place in the kindergarten through second grade division; Julia Gatewood, first place, Olivia Strong second place, and Olivia Gatewood third place in the third through sixth grade division; Amelia Houser first place, Makayla Banfield second place and Elizabeth Houser third place in the teen and adult division; Kelliher family first place and Madelyn Madsen, Anna Madsen, Lelani Fugere and Carson Head second place in the family division; and Laurie Ethridge (“Peacock Fairy House”) and Deborah Conroy (“Golden Wheel 50th Anniversary”) won the Judges Choices awards.