Hartland Chamber Christmas Tree Hunt Brings Chance at Gift Basket Worth More than $1,000

Want to learn more about Hartland-area businesses and organizations and maybe win a gift basket valued at more than $1,000 — all while checking out an array of Christmas Trees?

The plans to kick off a Christmas tree shoppers hunt Wednesday that does exactly that.

From Wednesday until Dec. 16 anyone who visits every location with a tree will be entered into a drawing for the gift basket that's full of items worth at least $25 from the nearly 30 participating organizations.

For a list of participants, see below the article. The grand prize drawing will be Dec. 19.

"It's a way to showcase your business," said Barbara Walker of and the past president of the chamber who is coordinating the contest.

"It gets people in the door so that they talk to you. It's part of our mission to promote a local business."

Those going for the gift basket will need to get signatures from each location on contest sheets that should be available on Wednesday from either at locations or from extras at the chamber office, and the . The list must be returned to the chamber office by 2 p.m. or Hartland Insurance by 5 p.m. the final day of the contest.

Some of what will be inside the gift basket includes a $25 Visa gift card for , a teeth-whitening package from and a car safety kit from Hartland Insurance. In addition, some businesses will giving promotional items and treats, such as candy, away as part of event.

Connie Brinkeroff of , who will have a tree at the chamber office along with other home-based and some out-of-town participants, is providing the gift basket a pampering pedicure set with accessories. A friend is loaning her a small white tree that she decorated with products she sells such as nail polish, lip stick and perfume.

"I was lucky to be a recipient of a white tree," she said, appreciative of the help.

The gift basket itself will be on display with a full listing of prizes later this week at Hartland Insurance, Walker said.

She added that the hope is the contest can get some Hartland-area residents to realize the large number of quality services and businesses in their backyard that they can use instead of driving to Ann Arbor or the closer to Detroit.

"There's people in our community; they don't know about" local businesses, she said.

Editor's notes: Hartland Patch is participating in the contest and has its tree at the chamber office. We are offering free pens and you can sign up for our email newsletter when you visit or sign up on our home page at the bottom. In addition, we plan to feature a picture of the trees from the contest, starting with today's article of Mary Kay.