Festival of the Trees themed “A Christmas to Remember”

empty memory tree

Christmas wreath

table settings

presents

The festival of trees has been a Cedar Falls tradition for the past 28 years,, and on Wednesday, Nov. 16 through Sunday, Nov. 20, the festival will add another year for people in the community to donate trees for others to buy. The money from the all trees goes to the Sartori Memorial Hospital.

This year there are 23 trees, 16 wreaths and 15 table settings up for sale. The event annually raises from $45,000 to $60,000.

Christy Stoltz, the coordinator of special events fundraising, said that the festival is the “Kick off of the holiday season in the Cedar Valley.”

The theme of this year’s festival is “A Christmas to Remember” and features trees that throw it back to older times or have quotes on them.

“One of my favorites is the Sartori Tree, decorated by Peg Ascherl for Sartori Memorial Hospital,” Stoltz said.

The tree by Sartori is done every year, and they have people that make trees, door wreaths and table settings every year.

One of the newest hits is the memory tree, where the visitors decorate a blank tree with notes to loved ones or put a name inside an ornament that is provided. Last year they started the tree, and it was a big hit.

There will be a kitchen bake sale Saturday, Nov. 19 and a Santa’s workshop on Saturday too, and on Sunday, a Teddy bear tea party will be held too.

The nativity scenes, trees, wreaths and table settings are in Gallagher Performing Arts Center lobby until Sunday, Nov. 20 at 4 p.m.