FARMINGTON — Farmington Rotary will launch the holiday season on Chester Greenwood Day with its annual Festival of Trees, which will be held at the Farmington Community Center on Middle Street in Farmington on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Doors will open at 9 a.m. for viewing of 23 full size trees, five tabletop trees and 10 wreaths.
This year the full-size trees include a special community tree, where Rotary invites people in the community to bring an ornament to hang on the tree throughout the day of the festival.
Some of the themes of this year’s trees include: Dr. Seuss; Polar Express; I’ll Be Gnome for Christmas; First Responders; Buffalo Plaid in memory of Tom Eastler; and Warm and Cozy Christmas. Two special trees will be on display commemorating the Sept. 16 fatal explosion at LEAP Inc. – a 1000 paper cranes that asks for continued recognition of Larry Lord’s healing and a firefighter tree. Lord was the maintenance man for LEAP who was critically injured in the explosion. The firefighter tree will honor firefighters and first responder from fire departments around the state of Maine.
In addition to the trees, there will be unique wreaths decorated by businesses and community members. Wreaths are bought from the Farmington Historical Society to support its efforts to make Farmington a thriving community that preserves and recognizes its history.
There will also be homemade cookies and hot chocolate served throughout the day, a cuddly stuffed Dalmatian door prize, and a raffle tree with thousands of dollars of prizes donated by area businesses. This tree is always a highlight of the Festival of Trees. Proceeds from this and other trees and wreaths benefit local and international programs that help build youth leaders, reduce food insecurity, improve water quality and eradicate polio.
The Festival of Trees concludes with a social hour starting at 5 p.m. with a cash bar and appetizers and an auction of the trees which begins at 6:30 p.m. All trees that are auctioned off will be delivered by Farmington Rotarians. For $25 off the purchase price bidders can pick up their own tree.
Those interested in bidding on a tree but can’t attend the auction can bid through a proxy bidder for absentee bids, and those who would like to do so can see any Rotarian throughout the event to make a bid.
