Great attendance at 2008 Festival of Trees
Posted December 10, 2008
The 13th Annual Festival of Trees drew record crowds to Opportunity Village on the weekend of Dec. 5-7, 2008.The Festival displays more than 100 trees, wreaths, and swags decorated by community volunteers. Nearly 400 people attended Opening Night, which featured hearty appetizers and dessert tables among the decorated trees. This is always the first opportunity to view and purchase trees, so guests rush into the Festival to pick out their own favorite. Opening Night was sponsored by HyVee East, which also provided one of the buffet tables.
We served pancakes to more than 1,200 people on Saturday at the Breakfast With Santa. More families came for the free children's craft activities in Santa's Workshop or to see the tree displays. Children also could shop for family gifts in the Secret Shop. Sponsors for Saturday's events were CL Tel, Lake Dental Associates, and Master Floors Carpet One.
Sunday featured a Cookie Walk, with homemade holiday candies and cookies.
Raffle winners were Betty Squier, children's wagon; Ben Wright, men's collection of Minnesota Vikings gear; and Brad Sabin, women's gift basket. The raffle collections were donated by Galilean Lutheran Church, First Congregational Church, and Agape Christian Family Church.
All proceeds from the Festival support services to people with disabililties at Opportunity Village. Main sponsors for the entire weekend were Dean Snyder Construction, Corporate Farmer, and UBS Wealth Management.
Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers, our sponsors, and those who attended this terrific holiday event!