By: Kyle Kramm, Main Street & CVB Director, (830) 401-2448, kkramm@seguintexas.gov
Seguin is getting prepared to kick off the holiday season with the Holiday Stroll. One of the community’s favorite Holiday Stroll event is Sip ‘n Stroll, a chance to shop and socialize all while sipping on homemade hot chocolate.
For the ninth year, the Sip ‘n Stroll mug will feature a Seguin landmark, and this year, the mug will feature the former Seguin Fire Station, currently housing the Schertz Seguin Local Government Corporation. The firehouse, built circa 1910, was the City of Seguin’s first brick firehouse, replacing a wooden firehouse located on Austin Street. It remained the firehouse until the 1950’s when the Central Fire Station was built.
The 2019 Sip ‘n Stroll committee selected artwork submitted by Nancy Hartfiel, a retired art teacher with Navarro ISD and Seguin resident, to be featured on the 2019 mug. The artwork is a pen and ink drawing with colored penciling of the southern façade of the firehouse.
Hartfiel has been making art her entire life across a variety of mediums, but drawing is her favorite. Art is a passion of hers that she took with her into the classroom teaching art in Alvin before moving to Seguin in 1980, where she taught art and history at Navarro High School.
“For the last couple of years I thought about entering the contest but always thought someone else would do a better job,” said Hartfiel, “I have always loved the old fire station. It is one of my favorite downtown buildings so I thought I would give it a try. We’ve (Hartfiel and husband Arlynn) watched the fire station through all of its changes.”
The 2019 Sip ‘n Stroll mugs featuring Hartfiel’s beautiful art piece can be purchased for $15.00 at various local businesses in and around downtown Seguin. Participating locations are but not limited to Southern Good, Court St. Coffee Shop, Guadalupe Printing Solutions, Saenz Boot Repair, Crescent Dental, You’re So Crafty, Security Finance, Amy’s and Cathy’s, Habitat for Humanity, Gift and Gourmet, Bling & Company, Playoffs Bar and Grill, and many more!
“The mugs have become a collectible with many people purchasing a mug from each year,” said Kelly Schoenvogel, a member of the Sip ‘n Stroll Committee, “And we strongly encourage people to purchase their mugs early as we have sold out in the past.” Mugs will be sold until noon on Friday, December 6th but don’t wait that long or they may be gone!
Sip ‘n Stroll is on Friday, December 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and visitors to downtown brandishing the 2019 Sip ‘n Stroll mug can sample over 20 varieties of homemade hot cocoas at downtown businesses. Additionally, there will be pictures with Santa, entertainment, wagon rides, and more. Sip ‘n Stroll is part of Holiday Stroll, a three day event in historic downtown Seguin on December 5 - 7. Thursday, December 5 kicks off Holiday Stroll with the lighted Holiday Parade at 6:30 p.m. Friday evening is the Sip ‘n Stroll and Saturday, December 7 will round out Holiday Stroll with the North Pole Stroll, featuring family friendly activities held in Central Park from 10 am until 2 pm. For more information on Holiday Stroll, visit www.facebook.com/SeguinHolidayStroll.