Tantone Industries team helps bring a 30-foot Christmas landmark to life

It may have been nearly 100 degrees outside, but inside the staging room of the new Branson ChristkindlMarkt, Christmas was already in full swing.

Wearing Santa hats and singing along to Christmas carols, employees from Tantone Industries joined the Branson Christmas Coalition for a tree-fluffing party to prepare a giant evergreen for the upcoming Ozark Mountain Christmas season.

Some members of the Tantone team have worked for the organization for more than 30 years, while others joined just three months ago. Together, they carefully fluffed and shaped nearly three-fourths of the massive tree in only four hours.

• 

• 

• 

• 

The Tantone crew at work (Photos submitted by Elizabeth Huges/Branson Christmas Coalition)

The team came well prepared for the assignment. Tantone operates a thrift store where employees have recently been assembling and shaping Christmas trees for the sales floor. “We’ve been putting out Christmas merchandise in the thrift store, and everyone loves it, so I knew they would enjoy this,” said Tantone team supervisor Jerzie Yacko. “We don’t often have opportunities to volunteer in the community, so when we do, we take them to heart.”

For Tantone employee Lucy Piercey, who works in both the warehouse and commercial laundry, joining the “tree-fluffing brigade” was an easy decision. “I wanted to get out into the community and support Tantone,” Piercey said.

The 22-foot giant evergreen was provided by the Branson Christmas Coalition and will stand beside the illuminated clock tower at The Shoppes at Branson Meadows. Once placed on its metal base and crowned with a four-foot star, the completed display will reach approximately 30 feet.

“We were so pleased to have the Tantone team help us,” said Jenny Caro, executive producer of the Branson ChristkindlMarkt. “They worked incredibly hard and were an absolute delight. We had so much fun wearing Santa hats, playing Christmas music and preparing all those enormous branches. We would gladly welcome them back to volunteer again.”

For Yacko, the experience was about much more than preparing a Christmas tree. “Many of our employees are adults with disabilities, and some are very introverted or hesitant to get out into the community,” she said. “Opportunities like this help them meet new people, discover new abilities and build relationships. Sometimes they don’t think they can do something, but I know they can. They can do everything.”

The Branson ChristkindlMarkt will bring the warmth and wonder of a traditional European Christmas market to the Ozarks. Guests will be able to stroll beneath twinkling lights, enjoy seasonal foods and beverages, and shop for unique gifts and handcrafted specialty items. Admission will be free. The Markt will officially open Thanksgiving weekend, but the giant tree and clock tower will begin glowing November 1.

The display will be one of more than 75 Christmas destinations locals and visitors can discover through the virtual Ozark Mountain Christmas Passport at ExploreBranson.com.

“Community collaboration is at the heart of everything we do,” said Elizabeth Hughes, executive director of the Branson Christmas Coalition. “Bringing together partners like Tantone Industries and the Branson ChristkindlMarkt is about more than creating a memorable experience for visitors. It builds a vibrant, connected and healthy community. When local leaders unite to create something special, our entire region wins.”

The Coalition works with businesses throughout the Branson area to create high-quality Christmas installations, including Christmas trees for America’s Christmas Tree City and its signature Lights. That. Wow! displays. 

To learn more about the Branson Christmas Coalition go to bransonchristmas.org. To learn about exploring Ozark Mountain Christmas, go to explorebranson.com. To learn more about the Branson ChristkindlMarkt, go to bransonchristkindlmarkt.com.