Tickets available for 40th annual Festival of Trees, set for Dec. 2

Published 12:45 am Tuesday, November 21, 2023

The Festival of Trees returns Dec. 2 to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds.

This year marks the popular Central Oregon fundraising event’s 40th anniversary. For the first time, it will expand to two buildings in order to accommodate more trees and guests.

The one-day event will begin with a family fun tree preview from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Dec. 2 and the gala will follow at 5 p.m.

Tickets are now on sale for both the gala and live tree auction at the Hospice of Redmond website.

Festival of Trees has been a holiday tradition for Central Oregonians since 1983. This year, the nonprofit is donating a special tree for its new “Pet Peace of Mind” program and Camp Sunrise.

Proceeds from the sale of these trees will support the individual programs.

“Every year, our goal is to make Festival of Trees a magical and memorable experience,” said Jane McGuire, Executive Director of Hospice of Redmond in a release. “This year’s event is no different. As our nonprofit’s only fundraising event of the year, our team, led by Andrea Springer, has gone to great lengths to make it the most meaningful Festival of Trees we’ve ever had.”

The community is invited to the fairgrounds for a free viewing of the trees from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to having Santa in attendance, there will also be live entertainment and activities for children. Attendees of the free preview event can also vote for the People’s Choice Award.

“Festival of Trees is more than a Central Oregon tradition, it is a celebration of life,” said Andrea Springer, Hospice of Redmond Board President and Festival of Trees Coordinator. “Some people decorate a tree for fun, but many decorate trees in honor of a family member. Not a person walks away from the event without being impacted somehow.”

Funds raised at Festival of Trees allow Hospice of Redmond to provide terminally ill people and their families services not covered by Medicare or private insurance. These services include bereavement counseling, a program for people with life-limiting illnesses and Camp Sunrise, an annual grief camp for children throughout Central Oregon.

For more information about the event, call Hospice of Redmond at (541) 548-7483 or email festivaloftrees@hospiceofredmond.org.