In late November, 20 artfully decorated snowman sculptures rolled into downtown Naperville, stationed along Washington, Van Buren, Jefferson, Jackson and Main streets.  Each snowman was entered into the contest that would decide the three favorites and visitors voted at www.downtownnaperville.com by Dec. 28.

When the votes were tallied, the top three vote-getting snowmen were Dr. SNOwcavities, sponsored by Naperville Dental Specialists (located at the Main Street Promenade); Frosty the Sports Fan, sponsored by Klein Hall & Associates (located near Potbelly); and Rosy, sponsored by Rosanova & Whitaker, Attorneys at Law (located in front of Adagio Tea).

After nearly two months and thousands of photo opportunities with families who came to visit the jolly rolly-polly sculptures, each with a different theme, the popular exhibit soon will melt into fond memories of the holiday season 2012.  Most of the snowman sculptures will return to their sponsors on Jan. 11.

The Hotel Arista “Find Me on the Hotel Arista Snowman” match game also was a chance to benefit Little Friends, Inc.

Thanks to voters, Hotel Arista gives to Little Friends, Inc.

An added feature to the Hotel Arista “Unscripted” Snowman entry that stood in front of Jimmy’s Grill was a social media campaign coordinated by the Maclyn Group. The windows on the Hotel Arista Snowman featured friendly faces of Naperville notables. Folks were invited to visit the Hotel Arista Facebook Page and try to correctly connect the faces with the right name. For each correct guess made, $1 would be donated to Little Friends, Inc, up to $500. According to organizers the response was overwhelming.

On Jan. 10, organizers of the promotion invited all the people pictured in the windows to a party at Jimmy’s Grill to celebrate. Jeff Brown, General Manager at the Hotel Arista, presented an enlarged check to Kristi Landorf, CEO of Little Friends, Inc.

Hotel Arista is located in CityGate Centre, just off Ferry Road and Route 59 on Naperville’s northwest side. Often called “Naperville’s hotel” because it’s an independently-owned, one-of-a-kind luxury property, Hotel Arista also is home to SugarToad, Zorba’s Lounge as well as a location for hundreds of weddings, business meetings and special events.

Hotel Arista is a four-diamond award winner and the first LEED certified hotel in Illinois.

Thanks to all Snowman Exhibit Sponsors

As is often the case, community spirit in downtown Naperville also attracts businesses outside the Central Business District.  In addition to Hotel Arista at CityGate Centre, Edward Hospital, Naperville Education Foundation,  Gail & Don Niermeyer (Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate), Sikich, Klein, Hall & Associates LLC,  Edelweiss Snow Removal, Collision Centers of America and Fast Signs participated in the Hometown Holidays festivities with the Downtown Naperville Alliance.

Other sponsors were Dine Naperville (Naperville Convention & Visitors Bureau), Naperville Bank & Trust, Janor Sports, DMI Hotels, Naperville Magazine, Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Promenade, Smiles by Dr. Gibson,  Naperville Dental Specialists & Innovative Orthodontic Centers, Design Inspirations, Rosnaova & Whitaker Attorneys at Law, Little Luxuries, and La Sorella di Francesca.