Christmas Opening with Starlight

23rd Annual Starlight Santa

The 2012 Starlight Santa, celebrating 23 years!

Starlight Opening: November 2, 2012

Vaillancourt Folk Art is known for doing Christmas in a big way. With breathtaking decorative themes changing each year, their gallery is truly transformed into a winter wonderland that is a cherished experience for thousands of families a year. In addition, philanthropy has always played an important role for the Vaillancourts, which is why Judi has created the annual Starlight Santa each year since 1990. The Christmas Opening kicks off the season with the first glimpse of the decorations and the availability of purchasing the premier numbers of the annual Starlight Santa.

Starlight Santas

Each year since 1990, Judi Vaillancourt designs a special chalkware Santa with a portion of the proceeds donated to the Starlight Children’s Foundation to purchase “Fun Centers” for local pediatric units. A limited edition that is retired on Christmas Day (never to be produced again!), the Starlight Santas have become one of the most sought after collectibles in the domestic Christmas market. Premier numbers are available only to those in attendance of the Christmas Opening.

Starlight Children’s Foundation

The Starlight Children’s Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope with pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities.

A “Fun Center” is a mobile entertainment unit containing a flat-screen television, DVD player and Nintendo system. Whether hospitalized children are nervously awaiting surgery, sitting restlessly during a long treatment or lonely in their hospital room, the Fun Center helps them cope by providing hours of fun and distraction. Fun Center sponsorship is currently $4,250 which includes all the costs of the unit and maintenance for the life of the Fun Center by Starlight Children’s Foundation staff.

Vaillancourt Folk Art presenting the check to The Starlight Foundation.(Pictured: Gary, Judi, Joelle Prill-Tate of Starlight, and Tom Bergeron host of Dancing With The Stars)