Feature ArticleDecember 19, 2001
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Festival of Treesby Jeff GreenIts all about community; thats where it begins and ends. Thats how Rosemarie Bowick describes the goal of the Festival of Tees that took place last weekend at the Oso Community Hall in Sharbot Lake.
The event was initiated last year by the Villages Beautiful Committee, a group dedicated to serving all the villages of Central Frontenac. We have people from all over the township on our committee, says Rosemarie, and the Festival of Trees reflects all the communities.
Over 850 people attended the three-day event, many returning several times, but for those who missed it, Ill attempt a brief description. A series of 4, 6, and 8 foot trees were spread out around the hall, with a display of remarkable gingerbread houses laid out on a table by the far wall, and wreaths and stockings hanging from the walls. Childrens artwork was hanging behind the stage area.
The Festival organizers purchased all the trees, wreaths, and stockings, then sold them to the groups and individuals who participated in the event. On Wednesday night, all the tree decorators arrived with their bags and boxes of decorations, and a frenzy of activity ensued as they began decorating their trees and wreaths, and stuffing their stockings.
Once
the dust had cleared, a wonderful variety of themes 
were expressed on
the trees. There was a teddy bear tree; a candy tree; a tree decked
out with bottles of wine and spices; some with small toys and
hand-made wooden decorations; a tree with reproductions of remarkable
historical photos; and even one containing cold medications and other
health items. The groups and individuals who sponsored and decorated
the trees, wreaths, and stockings are the real heroes of the festival.
Not only did they invest money by buying the trees and wreaths; they
also had to conceive a theme, gather the materials to express that
theme, and then execute it on Wednesday night.
The trees were judged on Thursday morning [a list of the winning entries is included in this issue of The News, on page S14 of the Christmas supplement]. Then the doors opened and people began streaming in. None of the items on display was for sale, but they each had a box next to them for draw tickets. For the price of $2 for three tickets, the public was invited to put as many tickets as they would afford into the box associated with their favourite item. On Sunday afternoon, the boxes were opened, and the winning names drawn [a complete list of draw winners is on page S16 of the Christmas supplement].
I must mention the three winning gingerbread displays. They were much more than gingerbread houses; they were all remarkable. The Oso Town Hall by Wanda Putnam is an exact replica of the hall, right down to the cellar door, the Cenotaph, and the civic number. The train station, by volunteers from Trails to Literacy, features a beautifully colourful candy roof, and the Noahs Ark display by Ilona Cox includes animals and people along with a wonderfully rendered Ark.
Throughout
the weekend, musical groups volunteered their talents to entertain the
crowd that kept streaming in and out of the hall. Bill Miles kicked
things off on Thursday, and the Young Choristers, Barbara Agnew, Erika
Benn and Lindsay Fox, The MacPhersons, and Bob Miller provided seven
hours of continuous singing, piano, and guitar performance. On
Saturday, the Blue Skies Fiddle Orchestra performed, then Jim Duffy
played piano. Rounding out the entertainment was an hour of singing by
the Arden Glee Club, followed on stage by the jazzy Ardenaires.
Volunteers in red Santa hats were constantly available to accept food donations, sell tickets, serve drinks, treats, and chili, and help in any way necessary. Individuals from the Villages Beautiful group took on responsibility for each aspect of the Festival, and then formed their own committees to get the jobs done. Ultimately, it took a large number of cheerful volunteers to make the festival a smooth-running event from start to finish.
The
Festival of Trees is a
successful fundraiser for the Villages Beautiful, ensuring that
flowers, trees, and benches will continue sprouting up throughout the
township, and it also raised $440 in cash and lots of food for the
local food bank. However, It isnt about the money, says
organizer Rosemarie Bowick. Its meant to bring people together,
its meant to be a fun community event. The Festival was a
resounding success on all scores, as a weary, but satisfied Rosemarie
acknowledged on the final day, It looks like this has become an
annual event.
