MATTOON – The Lumpkin Family Center for Health Education at Sarah Bush Lincoln was filled with visitors of all ages within minutes of the Festival of Trees opening Saturday morning.
Festivalgoers viewed Christmas trees decked out with themed ornaments and they shopped for gifts as the Charleston Community Band sax quartet kicked off the day’s live music. Meanwhile, the children in attendance lined up for Santa Claus visits and face painting.
Sara Hagemeyer of Charleston and her children, 10-year-old Alea, and 7-year-old Lola, were among those weaving their way through the displays of Christmas trees, wreathes, and other decorations.
“We have made it a tradition to come here and look at the trees on the weekend before Thanksgiving,” Hagemeyer said. “It’s something that kicks off the holiday season.”
Hagemeyer said these annual visits to the Festival of Trees provide a good opportunity for her to spend time with her children and her parents, Ken and Carol Newby of Mattoon, while shopping for ornaments and other items.
“I like looking around at all the ornaments and decorations,” Alea said. Lola added that her favorite Festival of Trees activity is definitely “seeing Santa.”
Those at the festival Saturday also included first-time visitor Cindy Rivas and her children, 5-year-old Brady and 3-year-old Alicia.
Rivas, whose family moved to the area in April, said she purchased a 2-foot-tall Christmas tree at the festival to put on their mantle at home. She said her children had their photos taken with Santa and got Christmas cookies too.
“I think it’s absolutely fantastic, a lot of fun for the kids as well,” Rivas said.
The 2017 Festival of Trees started with a “Friends Night Out” preview on Thursday, continued during the day Friday and Saturday, and concluded with a formal gala and auction Saturday night.
Jenny Swearingen, chairwoman of the 2017 festival, said this event draws many regular visitors who want to see all the trees that have been creatively decorated by businesses and other community groups.
Swearingen said the visitors get decorating ideas from these Christmas trees and they purchase ornaments at the festival before they put up their own trees at home. She said the “Packages with Pizzazz” themed gifts baskets are also top selling items every year at the festival.
“People really like the idea of getting presents and not having to worry about wrapping them,” Swearingen said.
Special Events Coordinator Kim Lockart with the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Foundation, which organizes the festival, said there was an upswing this year of donors wanting to take part. She said many of them made wreaths and 2-foot-tall trees to be sold at the festival.
Lockart said Sarah Bush Lincoln has done a good job of getting the word out about the Festival of Trees and this year’s fundraising goal of supporting the Heart Center expansion project. She said this goal has resonated with a lot of community member.
“I think people have been anxious to be part of that,” Lockart said. “It is the season of giving.”
