WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The magical sights and sounds of the 19th annual Festival of Trees are an excellent way for families to kick off the holiday season—with plenty of shopping, entertainment, activities for children and the chance to view decorated trees. The event, held at the Education Building on the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds, is open on Saturday, November 18 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday, November 19 from noon until 5 p.m.
Admission is $6 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. Parking is free. All proceeds from the Festival of Trees support pediatric programs at Brenner Children’s Hospital, part of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
“The Festival of Trees has always been one of the largest fundraisers for Brenner, and it is an event that brings the community together in order to raise money for programs that directly help patients and their families,” said Susan Kennedy, director of Annual Support and Special Projects at the Medical Center. “We encourage everyone to come out, celebrate the holidays and support the excellent pediatric programs at Brenner Children’s Hospital.”
The centerpiece of the Festival is the 40 large theme trees decorated by local garden clubs, interior designers and theFriends of Brenner Children’s Hospital organization. Because the festival benefits children, there is a special Santa’s Breakfast on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Santa Claus will be present to hear everyone’s wish list and his elf will take photos. For children from two-12 years old, they can enter the Children’s Activities area where they can make crafts, play games, get their face painted, and write letters to Santa.
For shoppers, the festival will have a wide range of vendors at the Holiday Market including: Simply Sterling, Noteworthy, Moravian Soapworks, Sassy Selections and many more. Shoppers will be able to bid on imaginative gingerbread houses, which will be available through silent auction in the magical, snowy Gingerbread Village. In addition, there are beautifully decorated 2’and 3’ miniature trees and wreaths for purchase.
For non-shoppers who want to relax and enjoy the holiday atmosphere, there is entertainment throughout the weekend, including Wake Forest University Chi Rho, Carolina Children’s Chorus and many more.
For more information on the Festival of Trees, contact Cindy Caines at 716-7985.
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About Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center: Wake Forest Baptist is an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Brenner Children’s Hospital. It is licensed to operate 1,187 acute care, rehabilitation, psychiatry and long-term care beds and is consistently ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report. Brenner Children’s was named one of the top children’s hospitals in the nation by Child magazine.
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