By Randi Pierce | Staff Writer
The 16th annual Festival of Trees will take place Thursday, Dec. 1, and Friday, Dec. 2, at the Ross Aragon Community Center.
The event helps raise funds for a number of nonprofits, with the organizations decorating trees that are then put up for public vote and auction.
The public viewing and voting will be from noon to 6 p.m. on Dec. 1 and will feature a chance to vote for your favorite trees, Santa, cookies, and hot cocoa and coffee. Admission to the viewing is free.
Attendees can meet and take a photo with Santa from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The public viewing also offers the chance to vote for your favorite tree or trees. Votes are $1 each, with half of each dollar going directly to the nonprofit. The top three trees with the most votes will get an additional donation for their nonprofits.
Then, on Dec. 2, the Community Center will present the 16th annual Festival of Trees.
Tickets are available by advanced sale only and are $25 per person. Table reservations are available. Tickets can be purchased at the Community Center.
The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the tree auction will be at 7 p.m.
Live music for the event will be by Steve Blechschmidt, food will be provided and there will be a cash bar.
This year’s participating nonprofits are Wings Early Childhood Center, Pagosa Play Place, Humane Society of Pagosa Springs, Pagosa Community Initiative, Wolf Creek Ski Team, Pagosa Peak Open School, LASSO — Large Animal Support Southwestern Organization, Pagosa Springs Medical Center Foundation, Ruby Sisson Memorial Library Foundation, Pagosa Youth Soccer, Veterans for Veterans of Archuleta County, Seeds of Learning, Rise Above Violence, Veterans Memorial Park of Archuleta County, Aspen House, Our Savior Lutheran School, Archuleta County 4-H, Habitat for Humanity of Archuleta County, Loaves and Fishes, and Pagosa Springs Youth Football.
For more information about the event, call the Community Center at (970) 264-4152.
randi@pagosasun.com
