Bent’s latest transformation: stunning holiday decorations

‘We really wanted to give Medina a special Christmas’

Photo by Tom Rivers: Two 12-foot-high nutcrackers stand in front of the lighted arch entrance to the Harvest Restaurant at Bent’s Opera House.

MEDINA – Bent’s Opera House has added a new element to the building’s transformation. The site reopened in June 2021 following a major renovation over three years that earned Bent’s the top preservation award in New York State.

Roger and Heather Hungerford, the owners of Bent’s, wanted to add to Medina’s holiday charm and this season decorated the historic building from 1865 with lights, wreaths, garland, a giant red bow, a vintage Santa and angel, two 12-foot-nutctackers and a large ornament where people can sit for photos.

Photo by Everett Pelkey: Roger and Heather Hungerford and their daughter Isabella are shown with the big Christmas ornament next to Bent’s Opera House on West Center Street.

Most of the decorations were out in time for Medina’s Parade of Lights. But the Hungerfords and their staff and friends have kept adding to the display in December. Mrs. Hungerford is the site’s general manager.

The goal is to make the downtown area even more magical during the holiday season for local residents and to bring in more visitors, said Justin Bruce, the assistant general manager at Bent’s.

“Finding both vintage and new holiday decor that would only enhance the beauty of an already stunning piece of historic restoration,” Bruce said. “The goal of this project has always been to bring outsiders to Medina. And we really wanted to give Medina a special Christmas as well.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: A crowd mingles near the intersection of Center and Main streets with Bent’s Opera House in the background just before the Parade of Lights on Nov. 30.

Kathy Blackburn, a long-time Medina business leader, helped with some of the interior lighting and a display of poinsettias. She said the decked out Bent’s has been a marvel this holiday season, with many stopping by the ornament for photos.

“It has made an impact and is continuing to make an impact,” she said.

Bent’s just announced a contest for people to get photos of their pets in the ornament.

The display will stay out for as long as the village keeps up the Main Street decorations.

Justin Bruce, assistant general manager at Bent’s, stands in a courtyard with an archway of lights and a vintage Santa.

Many of the employees at Bent’s and Talis Historic Restoration worked to decorate the three stories of windows with lights. Travis Farnsworth from Talis and Mark Hungerford, the facilities manager, put the wreath and garland at top of the building.

Photo by Everett Pelkey: Bent’s was a popular gathering spot on Main Street before Medina’s big parade on Nov. 30.

File photo: Here is how the Bent’s looked at the start of the ambitious renovation project.