ABOUT THE ELVES

 
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OUR GRACIOUS HOSTS

David and Trina Bartok, own and manage St Stephens on The Hill, an everchanging event venue.  St Stephens on The Hill encompasses almost 100 acres which has been in the Bartok family since 1937 when David’s Hungarian grandparents purchase the property from African American physician Dr J.H. Lewis. 

The Bartok’s also own a historical home in Eldorado, “The Choisser Burnett House”, which is a short-term rental that is managed through Airbnb.com.  If you have not already noticed, giving back and providing events for community is a passion of David and Trina’s.

OUR PHOTOGRAPHER

Stephanie is the photographer and the person in charge of scheduling (so if you’ve gotten an email it’s probably from her)

She has been a photographer in Southern Illinois for over 10 years focusing on families, kids & studio work.

OUR CARRIAGE DRIVERS

Josh and Sally live in Southern Illinois, very close to the Garden of the Gods. This area is a mecca for horse lovers all over the midwest. Josh has an IT company in Evansville called Mash Networks. They specialize in computer and security systems. Sally has been in the auto industry forever. She has been with Expressway Auto Group for 20 years. But our passion is the horses!!

OUR HORSES

Major & Rory, the big team of Dapple Horse Hill came to us from Canada. The city of Thunder Bay, Ontario used them to give sleigh rides around Centennial Park. When the city decided to accept applicants to be their next home, we jumped at the opportunity and were thrilled when we were chosen! The boys are a type of draft horse called Percherons. They are both 12 year old geldings that are dapple gray in color. Major is the horse right in front of the driver, he is called the "wheel horse" which makes Roary the off-side horse. They have been teammates since they were two years old, so they're pretty tight!

MEET THE WHOLE TEAM

2023 Elves

2022 Elves

2021 Elves

2020 Elves

2020 Elves

2019 Elves

2019 Elves