There may be gifts under the nearly 140 festive and imaginatively decorated trees at this year’s 23rd annual Festival of Trees in the Exhibit Hall at MassMutual Center in Springfield, but Santa did not leave them there.
“Many of the businesses, organizations and individuals who have stepped up to decorate the trees and further our mission often leave wrapped gifts under the trees,” said Sarah Gumaer, marketing director, Boys & Girls Club of Springfield.
Opening day on Nov. 24 will include free admission from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. The Festival of Trees, hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Springfield, is known to be the original Festival of Trees in the greater Springfield area.
Proceeds from the Festival of Trees benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Springfield, which serves more than 2,600 Springfield youth each year in areas such as athletics, academics, STEM, career readiness, health and nutrition, and leadership.
“The Festival of Trees is our largest fundraiser each year and as a nonprofit is very important to our survival. It allows us to provide all types of programming for the betterment of Springfield youth in a safe and encouraging environment,” said Gumaer.
But it’s not just about touring a forest of trees inside the MassMutual Center and getting ideas how to decorate your own Christmas tree, it’s also about adding one of those trees to your own home.
Visitors to the Festival of Trees are encouraged to further support the fundraiser by purchasing raffle tickets for chances to win the trees, and all gifts associated with the tree valued from $200 to $2,000. Tree raffle tickets are $10 for 25 chances. All trees will be raffled off at the end of the festival on Dec. 10. Winners will be notified by phone to pick up their trees on Monday, Dec 11.
How it works is simple. You take those raffle tickets, however many you have purchased, and drop one, two, three or all of them into the different ticket boxes in front of your favorite trees.
Amelia Kellogg and her friend Madelyn Hoskinson, both of Wilbraham, check out a Christmas tree donated by Girl Scout Troop 12808 during a past year’s Festival of Trees. (Frederick Gore Photo)
Gumaer noted tree sponsors are very generous.
“You will find things like Patriot tickets and other valuable gifts associatied with some of the trees. We have suggested themes such as Baby It’s Cold Outside, Rudplph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, while some businesses choose to decorate their tree in line with what they do,” she said.
“We do have age restrictions on placing raffle tickets in some boxes involving gifts of alcohol and lottery tickets,” Gumaer added.
Special entertainment on opening day kicks off at noon with comedy juggler Bryson Lang, followed by the magic of illusionist David Garrity at 1:30 p.m. Additional performances are scheduled throughout the event.
Santa will also make an appearance at the Festival of Trees on opening day greeting all good little boys and girls from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and returns from the North Pole on the weekends – Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.
Hours after opening day are Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
General admission is $5, seniors are $4 and children 12 and under are free. Military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their families are free with ID courtesy of AT & T. Tickets can be ordered online.
Additionally, a special 50/50 raffle is also available for those who want to provide further support to the youth of the Boys & Girls Clubs for $5 a ticket. The winner will be drawn and notified on Dec. 10.
There is free parking at the MGM Springfield casino garage with a free shuttle running between MGM and MassMutual Center.
For a list of the many tree sponsors making the event possible, and for more information about the Festival of Trees, visit www.TreeRaffle.com or call 413-732-7201.
