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Columbiana makes list of top 25 Christmas towns in US

When Columbiana won the Reader’s Digest Nicest Place in America contest, the city assumed a sense of pride and determination to continue to grow. City Manager Lance Willard said that although 2019 is a tough act to follow, they have carried the momentum right into 2020.

Willard announced at last week’s city council meeting that reservations.com and Hallmark ranked the top 25 Christmas towns in the United States, and Columbiana made the list.

Factoring in categories of winter scenery, friendliness, walkability, Christmas cheer and small businesses, Columbiana finished 19th in the voting. The towns were also ranked based on being a good setting for a Hallmark movie.

Along with grading each aspect of the city, Hallmark said:

“This small town starts Christmas early with an Old-Fashioned Christmas in the Woods in October. Their support of local artisans and craftspeople is sure proof of their small-town hardiness. For the month of December, the impressive Joy of Christmas Light Show illuminates the holiday season. Featuring over 80 light displays, there is also a festive Gingerbread House and Santa’s Ice Castle where visitors can find Mr. and Mrs. Claus.”

“I’ve been asked how we are going to top 2019 and this is a great start,” Willard said. “Hats off to the Joy of Christmas and all of the volunteers. That’s a lot of hard work by the entire community.”

Along with the Hallmark voting news, Willard also informed council that TOP 10 Advertising voted Birdfish Brewing Co. as the seventh best bar and pub in Northeast Ohio. With over 100 participants voted on, Birdfish finished as the third brewery on the list.

“I think the growth in the community has really pushed us forward,” Co-owner Greg Snyder said. “It’s the people in the community who have built this into what it’s become, and we have gotten so much support from the entire city. It motivates us to continue to give back as much as we can.”

After Das Dutch Haus Restaurant was voted sweetest bakery in Ohio in 2019, it was once again voted as the best bakery. Salon Anthurium was also voted top salon in Northeast Ohio despite being a new salon in the area.

“We feel so blessed that as a new salon our loyal clientele has supported us, followed us and voted for us,” Co-owner Jessica Rohm said. “The momentum that we have experienced while opening is more than we could have ever hoped for.

Columbiana is an amazing town that we fell in love with awhile ago, and it is exciting to be part of an area with so many businesses that are being recognized for being awesome.”

Willard is ecstatic about the results of the voting and believes it’s an important stepping stone entering the new year.

“The results of these contests is evidence of the hard work put in by the businesses and demonstrates the sense of community and pride we have for them,” Willard said. “Hopefully this lets people know that when they set up shop in Columbiana that the community can come together to show their support. I believe the results of these recent polls will add to the momentum and synergy that Columbiana experienced in 2019.”

slendak@mojonews.com

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