The community of Creighton will swing into the Christmas spirit this weekend with the return of a popular community event.
The annual Festival of Trees will take place on Nov. 25, with proceeds going to the Creighton Community School playground committee as well as the school’s 2018 graduating class.
A number of events will take place throughout the day, including a breakfast with Santa, silver bells tea, penny parade and craft sale, along with the event’s signature silent auction.
“People, businesses, organizations and clubs donate trees, wreaths and centerpieces for the event, which we then auction off as part of the silent auction,” said Tiffany Ealey, a member of the playground committee as well as an organizer of the festival.
“While everything is on display, people who come through the doors will receive a ticket, and they can vote for their favourite tree for the peoples’ choice award.”
Ealey said one of the highlights of the event is a memorial tree.
“People have the opportunity to make a donation, then fill out a tag with a message to a loved one and add a light to the tree. It starts off dark in the morning, and then over the course of the day the lights come on.”
Ealey is expecting upwards of 20 craft vendors at the event, which the playground committee took over from the now defunct Creighton Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council two years ago.
“This is the second year we’ve run the festival of trees,” said Ealey. “We saw an opportunity to continue with a much loved, family friendly event.”
The event also serves as a drop off point for items for the Lord’s Bounty Food Bank as well as an unofficial Coats for Kids – coats will be donated to KidsFirst North.
Funds from the event will go toward the installation of swings and other new structures in the Creighton Community School playground in spring 2018, as well as yearbooks, school hoodies and supper tickets for the graduating class.
The festival of trees takes place in the Creighton Community School gym from 9am to 4pm on
Nov. 25.
