Results for the 45th Year, Winter 2021

Posted on February 6, 2023February 6, 2023 by Janet Ballweber

Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted everyone with waves and smiles and a hardy Ho Ho Ho from Santa.
Seniors came by the bus loads and were greeted by Caesar the No Drama Llama on their visit through Storybook Land.
Star Wars characters roamed the pavillion on their special appearance day.
The Ayersville multiple train display captivated the young and old!

Results for the 45^th Year, Winter 2021

Although the Covid-19 pandemic raged on, Christmas Storybook Land was able to offer the community a gigantic drive-through at the Linn County Fairgrounds in Albany for the holiday season. The Fairgrounds provided 40,000 sq. ft. and CSBL volunteers created an innovative, expanded layout to accommodate vehicles inside the Cascade Pavilion with over 100 scenes.

Over 18,000 visitors were able to enjoy scenes of childhood nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and family movies from the comfort and safety of their vehicles.

These generous guests brought over 13,000 commercially packaged food items for donation to our local food pantry—Fish of Albany!

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!

Results for the 44th Year, Winter 2020

Posted on April 29, 2021April 29, 2021 by Janet Ballweber

CSBL sign image

Winter 2020

Results for the 44th Year

Although Christmas Storybook Land’s humongous indoor display was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions, the CSBL crew were busy thinking outside the box to create a fun and festive holiday for the community.

The Scavenger Hunt

CSBL delighted children and adults by displaying Storybook Land scenes in the windows of six downtown Albany stores. Those who found all the displays and took a selfie of themselves with the scenes were eligible to win a prize.

Thanks to all the families and friends who participated! It was great fun!

Cesar No Drama Llama image

Sharing Scenes With Community Drive-Thru Events

Christmas Storybook Land scenes kept popping up around Albany throughout the season! CSBL spread holiday cheer by setting up 13 outdoors displays at the Brookdale at Heritage Plaza Senior Living community drive-thru. Also, CSBL displays were shared with Love Inc. of Albany for their children’s drive-thru event.

Daytime Christmas Scene image

Supporting Fish Of Albany

Christmas Storybook Land’s Santa and Mrs. Claus joined the YMCA Reverse Veterans Parade and collected 875 food items and over $626 in cash from generous parade attendees for Fish of Albany food pantry. Thanks to all parade attendees for your generous donations!

Santa and Mrs. Claus waving to truck with American flags image

Christmas Storybook Land created and operated a food drive to collect food by soliciting 20 wonderful Albany businesses who placed collection foods in their businesses for over a month.

Due to the generous donations of citizens Albany, CSBL was able to present 5,723 food items to the Fish of Albany food pantry on their behalf.

Santa Delivering Food image — Santa with Food for Fish of Albany

Holly Ryan Fish Director receives CSBL Certificate image — Holly Ryan Fish Director receives CSBL Certificate

Volunteers unload donated food image — Unloading Food at the Fish Warehouse

Special Thanks to:

Results for the 43rd Year Presentation, Winter 2019

Posted on May 4, 2020May 6, 2020 by Janet Ballweber

37,000

visitors during the 2-week presentation

27,800

food items collected for Fish of Albany food pantry

Over 500

hardworking volunteers participated

88

corporate sponsors donated materials, services, or funds

52

individual sponsors donated materials, services, or funds

Santa Mrs Claus Cesar the Llama — Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Cesar the No Drama Llama

Our Volunteers

Over 500 volunteers created, operated, and dismantled the 120-scene wonderland this year. Thank you for being a part of Christmas Storybook Land.

We want thank all of our volunteers who help out with every aspect of Christmas Storybook Land. You are the lifeblood of this organization throughout the entire year: from creating and repairing scenes during the year, to Setup Day, all throughout the event, for special days such as Seniors, Veterans and Special Needs Day, School Tours, and Star Wars Day, to Take Down Day. Thank you!

Volunteers in Action Gallery

Star Wars Day 2019

Our guests were treated to a visit from Star War characters from Cloud City Garrison a chapter of The 501st Legion of Stormtroopers, a Star Wars Imperial costuming club, and Kashyyyk Base of the Rebel Legion.

View the photos from Star Wars Day 2019 here!

Thank-You Winter Gathering

We hosted a Thank-You Dinner & Winter Gathering in January honored special volunteers recommended by the board with distinquished service pins. Guests enjoyed a white elephant gift exchange after dinner.

View the photos from the thank you dinner here!