FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa. — Beautifully decorated trees and wreaths will be center stage at the 6th Annual Festival of Trees!
The event will be held at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center through noon of Dec. 7. The lobby and Great Room will sparkle with 77 trees and wreaths, decorated to compliment this year's theme- A Star is Born.
Guests are encouraged to walk the red carpet for a special holiday selfie as they enjoy the handiwork and imagination of Franklin County businesses, organizations and individuals who decorated the trees and wreaths.
The Festival of Trees helps raise funds for the Cumberland Valley Breast Cancer Alliance. Visitors can vote for their favorite tree or wreath and bid in the silent auction. All proceeds will go to the Alliance.
Admission to the event is free. Voting is four bids for $1.
Festival of Trees is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day and Nov. 29. The Festival will be open on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hours on Sunday, Dec. 1, are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Candle Night, Dec. 6, the Festival of Trees is open until 8 p.m. The 11/30 Visitors Center will be serving special hot chocolate as part of the annual Cocoa Crawl and have sing-a-longs throughout the evening.
To view trees outside of regular hours, voters are encouraged to contact the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at 717-552-2977 or 866-646-8060 to make an appointment.
Also returning in 2024 is Sharing the Heart of the Holiday, which will be collecting items needed for a new homeless shelter opening in 2025. Items needed include hand sanitizer, socks, long-sleeved shirts, sweatshirts, hats, gloves, shoes, boots and backpacks.
Along with the festively decorated trees and wreaths, the Festival of Trees offers:
- A holiday train display, courtesy of Cumberland Valley Model Railroad Club
- Old-fashioned Christmas programming in the video vault.
- Coloring contest for children with a first prize of $50 and three honorable mentions of $20.
- Kids holiday crafts.
- Letter-writing to Santa, followed by a reply from Santa.
- A chance to win a small business Franklin County goody basket
- Sale of handmade craft items from the Chambersburg Quilt Guild
- Yummy cookies
- Visits from “The Grinch”
