Trees to be decorated, raffled for good cause
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TRISHA MURPHY/Palatka Daily News – Kim Daley, right, and Karen Clifford, chairwomen of the Festival of Trees, stand with some of the trees and a wreath that will be featured in this year’s event.
Everyone will be busy as elves in Santa’s workshop on Friday when creative juices start flowing and participants begin decorating Christmas trees and wreaths to be judged by the public in this year’s Festival of Trees.
“I’m amazed how creative some of these people are and how beautiful these trees turn out,” said Sheila McCoy, the executive director of the Palatka Christian Service Center doing business as the Heart of Putnam. “They really and truly are. In the past years, two Santa Claus trees really stood out. But they are all beautiful to me.”
The trees and wreaths will be on display to the public as part of the sixth annual festival, which begins Saturday at Beck Chevrolet Buick GMC, 1601 Reid St. in Palatka. Viewing hours are from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays and from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturdays through Dec. 9.
“We are setting the trees up earlier this year,” said Karen Clifford, the bookkeeper for the Palatka Christian Service Center and, along with Kim Daley, the co-chairwoman of the Festival of Trees Committee. “The Festival of Trees is one place residents can come and see more than 75 trees in one location all decorated differently.”
Clifford said some of this year’s decorations will include beach themes, the Nativity, the Nutcracker and a traditional Christmas theme, among others.
The Festival of Trees will include a memorial tree in memory of Palatka Junior-Senior High School 11th grader Baylee Holbrook, 16, who died Sept. 28 after being struck by lightning.
“Anyone who would like to hang an ornament of their choice on the tree can do so,” Clifford said. “On the day of the drawing, the tree will be presented to Baylee’s parents.
Trinity Baptist Church in Palatka, where Baylee was a member, is selling Pray Like Bay ornaments for $10 to benefit the church’s building fund. Ornaments are available from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at the church, 5021 Silver Lake Drive in Palatka.
As of Wednesday, Clifford said, more than 60 trees and two wreaths have been claimed for sponsorship for the festival. Sponsorships are available through Friday and can be secured by emailing HeartOfPutnam@gmail.com, calling 386-328-0984 or going to Beck Chevrolet on Friday with the sponsorship check.
Sponsorship options include a 6-and-a-half-foot pre-lit green tree for $100, a 4-foot pre-lit green tree for $50 and, new this year, a 24-inch pre-lit green wreath for $50. Sponsorship payments must be included with registration.
A box will be placed under each tree and wreath, and the public can buy tickets, write their name and phone number on them, and place them in the box under the tree of their choice.
A sheet of 25 tickets costs $20, three sheets cost $50 and seven sheets cost $100. Ticket sales will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and close at 2 p.m. Dec. 9, and the drawings will take place around 2:15 p.m.
Santa and Mrs. Claus and a few elves will also be on hand during the drawing for area children and families to visit. The Clauses will also pick a tree or wreath of their choice and the sponsors will receive a trophy.
All proceeds will go to the Palatka Christian Service Center to support its programs that help those in need.
Christmas tree winners do not have to be present to claim their prize, but a new winning ticket will be drawn if the original winner can’t be reached by Dec. 10.
For those who don’t want to keep their tree or wreath, then they can donate them back to the festival. Either a new winning ticket will be drawn or organizers will give the item to a needy family.
The service center and Putnam County Sheriff’s Office will suggest families in need of donated trees. Last year, Clifford said, eight trees were donated back from winners who specified they wanted them to go to a family in need.
All items must be picked up by 6 p.m. Dec. 22.
Clifford said she recalled the Bread of Life’s tree from last year and how striking it was with pieces of wheat on the tree.
“I think the Festival of Trees will help get people in the mood and the spirit of the holiday and the spirit of giving,” she said. “That’s what the holiday is about.”
