Eastern Idaho kicks off holiday season Monday at Festival of Trees
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IDAHO FALLS – An annual holiday tradition in eastern Idaho is almost ready to begin.
Carol Manwill and a group of 1,000 volunteers were at the Shilo Inn Convention Center in Idaho Falls Saturday setting up for the 44th annual Festival of Trees.
This year’s event will feature 62 Christmas trees, the event’s largest display of trees to date. Those who attend can expect the traditional activities as in previous years, including entertainment from local groups and volunteers every half hour, food catered by local vendors, raffles, drawings and a visit from Santa Claus.
The annual event helps raise funds for the Development Workshop, a local nonprofit that provides employment and skill training for people who are disabled.
“Our goal is to provide a lot of different types of experiences for people who have had a hard time entering the workforce so that they can have a successful experience,” Development Workshop President and CEO Mike O’Bleness told EastIdahoNews.com at last year’s event.
Funding for the nonprofit comes from people who decorate and donate a tree, buy a tree, or buy a meal. All the trees will be available for purchase on Monday and will be up for bid beginning Tuesday.
Carol Manwill, the organizer of this year’s event, says the proceeds will benefit a lot of people in the community.
“(Development Workshop) disperses the money throughout the community. We have a wish list they give us and we, as a board, go through it, and pick out the items that will best help them. We then vote on where that money should go.”
All trees that are purchased at Festival of Trees will be delivered to the customer Saturday morning.
Festival of Trees is happening Monday, November 12 through Friday, November 16 and goes from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. There will be a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. Monday, followed by a Veterans’s day program at noon. Family night starts at 5:30 with a scavenger hunt and games for the kids.
“It is a very wonderful experience to come and be part of the community and see the talent in our area. It’s very fulfilling to be a part of the Festival of Trees,” Manwill says. “I appreciate all the volunteers who come and give their time. If it weren’t for them, we could not put on this event.”
The cost of admission is $4 for kids 4-17, $5 for adults 18-59, $3 for adults 60 and up. Kids 3 and under are free. Day passes are also available.
“It’s a fun time for the whole family. Come and enjoy a day at Festival of Trees with us,” Manwill says.
If you’d like to volunteer at this year’s event, call (208) 317-2758.