Behnke’s Santa Chair Lives On

Last weekend was my last craft show for 2021, and I spent it in LaPlata, MD. This was my second year at the Kris Kringle Christmas Market, and once again, we had our stand right next to the beautiful Behnke Santa chair. When Christi (below) heard Behnke’s was closing, she bought the chair right away, knowing it would be a perfect fit for this annual event in LaPlata.

Besides the chair, Christi and her husband Larry bought most of Behnke’s Christmas display pieces. Knowing that so many of our fixtures have found homes all over has made it a little easier. (I love it when you share what you have done with some of these displays.) But knowing and seeing are two different things. Walking around the fairgrounds this weekend, I saw our sleigh, our poinsettia lights, and our big red barn doors that welcomed each of you to our garden center for so many years. Seeing the TALL wooden nutcrackers standing guard in front of the room where Santa talked to all the boys and girls was amazing.

My daughter Jaimie and I watched family and friends walk up to the Behnke Santa Chair for three days to take photos. Even when the crowds were at their peak, photo after photo was taken. The Bannister family (see above) said “Sure!” when I asked if I could share their picture in this newsletter. Those children were the cutest! But, I have to say, watching so many enjoying this wonderful chair made me step back and take a deep breath. How can I still, after all this time, get choked up by all the memories? Then Behnke’s John Reed (the cowboy, as you might remember him selling trees and shrubs for over 45 years) showed up to say hello. Of course, we had to have our photo taken together also.

This chair has held so many families and friends. So many of you have saved precious memories with your photos. Adrianne Neff made this chair for Behnke’s wonderful Santa out of repurposed material.

So thank you from the bottom of my heart to Christi for finding a new home for this magical chair and to her husband Larry for deciding that the Behnke Christmas displays could be repurposed for the Kris Kringle Christmas Market in LaPlata, Maryland. See you next year!