Skip to main content

Local firm wins USF Christmas design honor

The musically inspired Christmas tree in the Brookside Ballroom on the campus of the University of Saint Francis that was decorated by Designs by Dinius, of Huntington, took home the People’s Choice award during the university’s Christmas in the Castle celebration this month.
The musically inspired Christmas tree in the Brookside Ballroom on the campus of the University of Saint Francis that was decorated by Designs by Dinius, of Huntington, took home the People’s Choice award during the university’s Christmas in the Castle celebration this month. Photo provided.

The University of Saint Francis has tallied the votes of just under 4,000 guests who toured Brookside during Christmas in the Castle. Designs by Dinius (Roger & Tracey Dinius), of Huntington, have won the People’s Choice award for their custom Christmas décor in the Brookside ballroom.

Eleven local decorators took their talents to the University of Saint Francis campus to deck the halls of Brookside, which is the former home of industrialist John Henry Bass and his family. The building, which currently houses USF administrative offices, was restored in 2010 to reflect the authentic, original state of the mansion when Bass and his family lived on the outskirts of downtown Fort Wayne.

Every December, the university hosts Christmas at USF, which is a series of events open to the community to celebrate the season on campus. Christmas in the Castle has been held over the first weekend in December for many yearsand thousands of guests have had the chance to tour the decorated mansion.

“We’re so excited about the success of Christmas in the Castle,” said Christmas at USF Coordinator Kimberly Brinneman. “Roger and Tracey, along with all of our decorators, did a tremendous job transforming Brookside into a very special and festive space for our students, employees and hundreds of visitors this year.”