The most wonderful time of the year is right around the corner, and historic downtown Hillsboro is gearing up for “A Storybook Christmas,” sponsored by Imagine Hillsboro. This one-of-a-kind holiday celebration combines timeless traditions with the newest trends to create a unique experience that is guaranteed to be fun for the whole family, and this year’s event will include a couple of new elements that will deliver a series of happy endings.
Now in its fifth year, the all-day event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7, with festivities kicking off at 10 a.m., as downtown Hillsboro will come to life with carolers strolling down Main Street. New to the celebration this year, local manufacturer Atlas 46 is teaming up with Imagine Hillsboro, the City of Hillsboro and Hardcore Hammers to spread extra holiday cheer by hosting the first-ever Log Splitting Contest and Holiday Build Battle.
“A Storybook Christmas offers something for everyone – whether you’re ready to lace up your shoes for the Frosty 5K, hunt for clues during a festive scavenger hunt, discover quirky shopping opportunities or nosh on traditional holiday foods. Imagine Hillsboro and all of the volunteers work tirelessly to put together this festive celebration, making our city a different and lovely place to live and work,” said Jonathan Weyer, Community Planner for the City of Hillsboro. “We’re thrilled to partner with Atlas 46 to introduce a different sort of experience to this marvelous community event, and we’re hoping that everyone who joins us will have a merry little Storybook Christmas.”
Participants in the Log Splitting Contest will put their wood chopping skills to the test to determine who will be named the ultimate “Hardcore Splitter.” During the preliminary rounds, competitors will be given a Hardcore Hammers axe to use – a choice of a 4lb Ranger Axe or a 3lb Raptor Axe – to split various sized logs into 6″ pieces, then stack them faster than the competition to be on their way to claiming the $1,000 grand prize. The fastest participant in each preliminary round to split and stack 20 logs will advance to the finals, where they will be required to chop and stack an 18” log. In the holiday spirit of giving, the chopped firewood will be donated to local organizations in need through a collaboration with Lifeline Community Church and the City of Hillsboro. A special thanks also goes out to Bob Buda and the church for their time and effort in donating the trees and cutting them for the contest.
All participants must be 18 years or older and pay a $25 entry fee to be eligible to compete. Safety gear including glasses, steel toed boots or safety toe covers will be required. Area residents are invited to come out and cheer on their favorite team during the log splitting event, which will take place at 10 a.m. outside of the Bank of Hillsboro. Free axe sharpening will be offered at the event, and other Hardcore Hammer items will also be available for purchase. Pre-registration is required to participate in the Log Splitting Contest, and the deadline to register is Dec. 1st. Participants can sign up in person at the Atlas 46 facility in Hillsboro, online at www.hardcoresplitter.com or on the events page at www.atlas46.com.
The fun doesn’t stop there, as later in the afternoon, pre-selected teams will battle head to head to design and build the best holiday decoration during Atlas 46’s inaugural Holiday Build Battle. To be considered for this battle, interested teams will need to create a short video detailing why they should be given a chance to compete or fill out an application at the Atlas 46 facility in Hillsboro. A panel of judges will select the top three teams to participate in the Dec. 7 competition. Starting at 2 p.m., teams will have three hours to handcraft their holiday decorations using only the materials provided. Wood to be used during the competition will be supplied by England Farms in Fillmore, Ill., who also donated wood for the Monster Building Competition. The winner of this tinsel and tools throwdown will take home the grand prize of $500 and automatically be qualified for the chance to win even more prize money during the season finale of the Build Battles next fall. Details on how to participate can be found at https://www.atlas46.com/holiday-battle.html.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of one of Hillsboro’s most cherished events and offer these fun, creative contests to put a unique twist on traditional holiday celebrations,” said Brian Carver, President of Atlas 46, which opened a manufacturing facility in Hillsboro in 2018. “We’re extremely proud to put on events like these that bring together members of the Hillsboro community – from DIYers to skilled tradesmen and women – to shine a spotlight on the world of manufacturing and introduce a little spirited competition to the holiday season.”
Following the completion of the Holiday Build Battle, friendly faces will line the streets as the twinkling glow of lights march down Main Street in the Lighted Christmas Parade starting at 6 p.m.
For additional questions or more information on the Log Splitting Contest and Holiday Build Battle, visit the events page at www.atlas46.com. For more information on A Storybook Christmas, visit Imagine Hillsboro on Facebook.
With locations in Fenton, MO and Hillsboro, IL, Atlas 46 designs, develops, and manufactures innovative, premium workwear and gear for the construction, carpentry, electrical, maintenance, off-roading, DIY, and woodworking industries. The company was established in 2013 by founder and owner John Carver and is well-known nationally and internationally for its innovative work-gear and patented system that allows users to arrange and rearrange pouches based on their needs. For more information, visit www.atlas46.com or find Atlas 46 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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For more information, contact:
Merisa Ashbaugh
(314) 436-9090
merisa@hausergrouppr.com