Santa Clarita residents, it’s time to get in the holiday spirit.
From Wednesday to Sunday of this week, the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley is hosting its 14th annual Festival of Trees at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex to benefit the club’s operations throughout the year.
The five-day event features elaborately decorated holiday trees, tabletop trees and wreaths, gingerbread houses, crafts and activities for kids, a holiday boutique, entertainment, special events and visits from Santa.
“I love that the event brings so much joy to children and families each year and joy for supporting the bottom line of the Boys and Girls Club,” said Matt Nelson, the Boys and Girls Club’s director of administration. “It is a great way to support the community and the kids.”
Nelson said discussions surrounding the event happen all year long, but the bulk of the tree building, with unique ornaments, designs and fixtures, happens about two months before the event.
Jaci Hoffman, a 12-year Festival of Trees volunteer and six-year event volunteer chair, said she enjoys seeing what intricate trees will be created each year by the event’s tree designers and sponsors.
“There is a team of designers that design trees and companies that sponsor trees,” Hoffman said. “My favorite part is to see it come together and to share it with the community.”
This year, 39 trees are available for silent auction and live auction during the event. Nelson hopes the event will be just as successful this year as it has been in years past.
“We hope we get a good turnout and generate a lot of funds for the Boys and Girls Club,” Nelson said. “It is our second biggest event financially, but it is the biggest, multi-day community event with the biggest turnout.”
All proceeds raised from the Festival of Trees will benefit the operations of the Boys and Girls
Club, which serves nearly 1,500 youth, ages 7 to 17, at its two facilities in Newhall and Canyon Country.
“It is an important organization for a lot of youth… for kids of all backgrounds,” said Barbara C. Morris, Boys and Girls Club executive committee member and head of event logistics and graphics. “I wish they had a Boys and Girls Club when I was a kid.”
The Festival of Trees will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $6 for those 15 years old and over, $4 for seniors 65 years old and over, $4 for veterans, $3 for children 4 to 14 years old and free for children 3 years old and under.
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