Festival Of Trees Christmas In July Event This Weekend!

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on July 19, 2024
- 6:53 pm

The Fales and Lovejoy families combine their donations to create a spectacular tree for the final Festival of Trees event this weekend at the Betty Ehart Senior Center. Courtesy photo

Snowman and Santa and many other great items were donated by the Swickley family for the final Festival of Trees event this weekend at the Betty Ehart Senior Center. Courtesy photo

COMMUNITY News:

The storied history of a community tradition closes the final chapter this weekend, with the last installment of the Festival of Trees event at the Betty Ehart Senior Center. Christmas in July is a celebration of Santa’s vacation destination, here in Los Alamos, while helping small businesses and non-profits sell their wares and impact their bottom line.

The last celebration is slated to be the best with more than 18 vendor spaces sold, non-profit organizations selling a taste of childhood or hosting activities for fun and information to benefit all ages of the community.

The 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. gathering is Saturday at the Betty Ehart Senior Center. The festival raises funds for both local senior centers and Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA) during this 23rd annual event. While entry is free, they are seeking non-perishable donations to their food pantry, dog treats to benefit a Veteran’s project or pre-packages cookies for inter-generational activities. No time to shop before? You can pick up a tag from the “giving tree,” and return items when ready.

There are many thanks that allows a mid-year attempt to hold a final celebration. Louise Hassman, Linda Hoffman, Linda Hull and Chris Juveland are holiday angels who have been with the program every year or almost, since 2001.

Hundreds of volunteers have helped over the 23 years, but it never could have happened without the “vivacious volunteer” efforts of Kay Burick and Santa. While Burick would never agree, the knowledge, love, dedication and support she has shown the four executive directors of the senior centers during the 23 years of the program is nothing short of a miracle. Santa’s beauty, kindness and devotion has been present ever since the beginning, too. He will be there this year, sporting a holiday vacation vibe.

The plan is to end on a note of deep appreciation for our patrons and from our programs that benefit the young and the young at heart.

Words from the Executive Directors

Pauline Powell Schneider 2001-2018: “This event sparked so much creativity and goodwill. I loved seeing the BESC filled with inter-generational community members bidding, buying, singing, posing with Santa and taking home their treasures at the end of it all. I suppose all good things must come to an end sometime and other new ways to raise funds for C’YA and LARSO will emerge.”
Linda Boncella 2018-2019: “The Festival of Trees always brought so much joy to the holidays at Betty and really got everyone into the spirit of the season! It was a fun tradition that brings back warm memories.”
Bernadette Lauritzen 2019-2023: “I pitched this idea to Pauline many years ago and we started with 5 trees. Each year we would wonder if it would happen and every time we were pleasantly surprised by the donations. I was in charge of both LARSO and C’YA for 4 years and in 2020, Champions of Youth Ambitions donated all of the profits to LARSO. When 2020 held such uncertainty, the truth was that LARSO was caring for our community elders and the money was better spent there.”
Jacci Gruninger, current Executive Director: “After 20 plus incredible years, this event marks the end of an era and an amazing partnership between the Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization and Champions of Youth Ambitions. We appreciate the efforts all have put into sustaining this family-oriented event over the years and look forward to the community coming out to help us make our last Festival of Trees our best.”

So, the community is invited to slow down and take in a holiday tradition, yes, in the middle of summer. While the doors open Monday morning for the 100 plus items on silent auction, it ends on Saturday at 2 p.m. You don’t need to be there to win a raffle item and will be called after Saturday. All silent auction/raffle items must be collected by close of business on Wednesday, July 30.

Call 505.662.8920 for information.

Glitter Tree Trio was donated by Chris Juveland. There are more than 125 items on silent auction, which begins Monday. Raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5 at either senior center with more than 20 raffle items, the final one being a decorated Christmas tree. Courtesy photo