Festival of Trees Returns

by Jeff Green

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Villages Beautiful, the volunteer organization in Central Frontenac that puts on the Festival of Trees, took last year off after running the festival for six successful years. After one-year hiatus, the Central Frontenac Festival of Trees is back.

“So many people missed the event that we decided to bring it back,” said Mary Chiarot, one of the Villages Beautiful volunteers who has been working to reinvigorate the festival.

Local businesses and organizations were approached to participate. Many have responded and have purchased trees, at a cost of $10 a foot. They will be arriving at the Oso Hall in Sharbot Lake on Wednesday, December 10 at 6 pm for the largest tree trimming in Frontenac County.

All the trees, as well as wreaths, gingerbread houses, and “Anything Goes Category” submissions, as well as children's art, will be judged by a secret celebrity panel of judges on Thursday morning (Dec. 11).

The judges’ awards will be announced at the festival kick- off luncheon at the lower level of the Sharbot Lake Country Inn, which starts at noon on Thursday (all are welcome – buffet available at reasonable prices). For information call Pearl Robinson at 613-279-2046.

The festival will be open to the public starting on Thursday afternoon, and will be open all day Friday and Saturday until 4:00. Once again this year children from local schools will have the opportunity to see the trees.

The only entry fee to attend the festival is a food or monetary donation to the North Frontenac Food Bank. Tickets will be available to enter draws for each tree and other display items.

As has been the tradition, live entertainment from groups such as the Arden Glee club, the Blue Skies Community Fiddle Orchestra, Barb Agnew's piano students and special guests, will be featured on Thursday evening, Friday and Saturday. Refreshments wil be available from the canteen and there will be door prize draws throughout the three day event.

At 4:00 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, the moment of truth will arrive. The boxes next to each display article will be opened and a winning ticket will drawn. The lucky winners will be notified by phone and will be able to pick up their prize the next day.

The festival has been a very successful social event over the years, and it has been the major annual fundraiser for Villages Beautiful, which works year round on projects in all of the hamlets of Central Frontenac.

There are still opportunities available for families, groups or busineses who would like to try their hand at entering a tree for the competition. Two 4 foot trees and two 7.5 foot trees are available. Interested parties are urged to call Eleanor Bailey, the chairperson of Villages Beautiful, at 613-279-2771