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Lifestyles
Calling all creative types! Choose your theme and enter Festival of Trees
By Lynne Weinberger
Nov 18, 2009
The fourth annual Festival of Trees, held the weekend of Thanksgiving at the McKinney Performing Arts Center (MPAC) is now registering participants to decorate items for the event. Anyone is eligible to participate: community groups, schools, booster clubs, churches, scout troops, shops, and individuals who wish to decorate a tree, centerpiece, wreath, gingerbread house, or provide an item for the fourth annual event’s silent auction.
The three-day event will be held in conjunction with the city’s Dickens of a Christmas festival, Friday to Sunday, Nov. 27 – 29.
As always, the Festival of Trees committee provides the tree free of charge, from 2’ to 9’ tall. Decorations and creativity are up to each group, who each choose a unique theme.
Festival of Trees organizers and participants are excited to be returning to the downtown location. As the main fundraiser for Project Graduation, Festival of Trees has been key in helping seniors celebrate their high school graduation safely and alcohol-free. Approximately 1100 seniors (of a total 1200) and 300 guests participated in the game-and music-filled Project Graduation last year -- a record turnout.
Festival of Trees spans features over-the-top holiday décor and exquisite gifts made by local citizens, and everyone is encouraged to participate and register now. This is not a decorator-only or by-invitation-only event. All items will be on display over the weekend of Nov. 27-29 at MPAC, 111 North Tennessee.
New items this year include hand-painted holiday ornaments and other one-of-a-kind gifts created especially for this event by area artisans.
The Preview Gala and Silent Auction is Friday, Nov. 27 at 7:00 p.m. Gala tickets are available to the public at $30 each or 2 for $50. Door prizes will be awarded at the Gala. All items are bid on and purchased at the Friday night Silent Auction during the Gala and items remain on display for the public open house throughout the weekend.
Open House is Friday, Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 29 from noon - 4 p.m. at the McKinney Performing Arts Center. Open House tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for children under 10.
All proceeds go to McKinney Project Graduation. For Gala reservations, or to sign up to decorate a tree, wreath or centerpiece, or to donate items for the silent auction, email projectgraduation@att.net today.
For more information, visit projectgraduationmckinney.com and www.mckinneyperformingartscenter.org.
Photos by Lynne Weinberger:
Hand-painted collectible wood Santas by McKinney artist Sherry Joplin of www.sherryssantas.com.
Hand-painted glassware by McKinney artist Toni Andrukaitis of rosebudcreations@sbcglobal.net
Handmade baby items by Kristi Jones of www.pitterpatterlane.com