Tacoma's Festival of Trees

Festival of Trees is a fundraiser for Mary Bridge Children's Hospital.  The event is in it's twentieth year and features approximately 60 elaborately decorated themed trees, wreaths, and tablescapes along with equally elaborate gifts surrounding them.  There is a gala party and auction on Friday night and on Saturday and Sunday, the event is open to the public.  For more information, look here. Here is a small sample of what awaits at Festival of Trees!

Rustic Chic "Time to Celebrate"

When I was a music teacher, my choir sang at this event but it had been over 20 years since I last attended.  This year's event was as beautiful and perhaps even more elaborate than those I remember.

Our Secret Garden

Once won at auction, and after the public gets to drool over them, they are delivered to the winner.

There was a list with  each entry to let bidders and droolers know what was included with each.

"Fantasy Water Sports: included the Jet pack being demonstrated in the video along with the water vehicle complete with trailer and bunches of other goodies.

A four-foot tree category allows bidders with smaller spaces to take something home as well.

"Make a Joyful Noise for the Diamond Jubilee." (Mary Bridge is sixty years old this year.)

"Merry Napa" Comes with an all expense-paid trip to Napa to a special wine auction among other things.

What a cool sleigh!  The fortunate winners receive everything in the scene!

"Chickadee Delight"

 "Open the book to Wonderland" is perfectly situated next to 

"Curiouser and Curiouser; The Mad Hatter's Tea Party"

"For the Record" is one of the two entries designed by a very creative lady who I met through stained glass classes.  In fact, she'd taken another class on Saturday and gave me comp tickets for Sunday which is the reason we attended.  I'll be back next year!  Here's the exterior.

Views of the interior seen through the "window" openings. 

The floor.

"Sheldon the Elf," a four-foot tree, came with an entire elf community!

And, of course, the tree. 

See the next picture for the title of this cobalt and silver beauty and a list of the gifts that come with it.

"Tiny Bubbles"

"We are 12"  is one of the nicer treatments of the blue and green theme.  I'm starting to feel like they could call it "We are Borg" as everyone seems to have been assimilated.

"A Garden of Flamboyance"

"A Tribute to America's Heroes in LEGOs"

 "Walla Walla Splendor"

"The Magic of Books - Where Dreams Come True"  was very popular with kids and moms. Disney books?   One assumes the background was intentionally not ironed as a nod to Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time.

"It's a Wonderful Life"   Love the Wings near the top of the tree!  I have a bunch of large metal wings hanging around in the basement (Doesn't everyone?) that would be just the right size.  An idea for my own tree next year.  Just throw a head on top and the whole tree would become an angel.  How fun would that be?

"Blue Hawaii"

Performers from Tacoma Performing Dance Co. handing out fliers about an upcoming performance. 

And performing.

"A Decadent Housewife"

"White Hot" 

Lots of photo ops for families!

Mr. Claus had just stepped out to feed the reindeer.

Hope your preparations for Christmas are nearly complete!