Rebecca Elsen, Event Chairperson
A Cocktail Party, complete with a cheese and cracker tower, bar, and photo booth, kicked off the Singles Holiday Party in the Robson ballroom lobby on Dec. 9. White Elephant gift bags were dropped off by the check-in table, so hands were free to enjoy food, drink, good friends, and merriment.
As over 125 guests entered the ballroom, all were greeted by Santa waving and “Ho-Ho-Ho-ing” from his sleigh on the stage. Santa’s bag was loaded with gifts, including one very important gift for everyone: Grant Wright popped out of Santa’s bag and began singing “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “Santa Baby”!
Our master of ceremonies Jerry Nissen welcomed guests and invited folks onstage for pictures with Santa as dinner was being served. The line to sit on Santa’s lap was long, but everyone got their turn. It’s anyone’s guess who had more fun—Santa or his fun-loving visitors!
Festive tables were decorated with sparkling wreaths, candy canes, and jingle bells for all. A mixed green salad with roasted pecans, red wine cherries, and maple vinaigrette dressing, along with the German chocolate cake, was pre-set as guests sat down. The wonderful Robson staff, headed by Jillian Palmer, very efficiently delivered the garlic-encrusted London broil, garlic whipped potatoes, and green beans to hungry guests.
Once desserts began, the ballroom was filled with fabulous music sung by Grant Wright. His melodies included “It’s a Marshmallow World” (Dean Martin), “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (Michael Buble), “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” (Dean Martin), “Holly Jolly Christmas” (Michael Bublé), “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (Frank Sinatra), and “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” (Nat King Cole). Grant delighted our audience with two very special guest singers: Avery, Grant’s girlfriend, sang a duet to “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” and Grant’s dad Larry Wright sang another beautiful duet together. The Audience gave a thunderous round of applause to a great presentation.
Then Santa invited his elves to join him in delivering gifts to all the guests. The MC read the rules, and Grant proceeded to read the customized “Left-Right” Christmas story. Whenever the story used the word “right,” everyone passed their gift to their right, and when the story used the word “left,” gifts were passed to their left. Much laughter was heard as gifts circled the tables until Grant read, “It’s the right time to open your gifts.”
Grant then invited everyone to take their jingle bells and join him in “Jingle Bells” and other well-known favorite carols. Santa Claus and Grant walked out singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
A special thanks to Shelbi and Steve for the ballroom set-up, and thanks to Jeremy, Jillian, Ariel, and the other staff for wonderful service. And a very special thanks to all the Singles members who helped behind the scenes.
Grant Wright can be contacted at [email protected], but he’s graduating this spring, so book him quickly if interested.