The Saratoga Springs City Center will be home to more than 250 trees, wreaths and centerpieces decked out for the holidays, as it hosts its 11th annual Festival of Trees from Wednesday, Nov. 29 to Sunday, Dec. 3.
We’re so happy to be entering our 11th year in Saratoga, said Sister Charla Commins, executive director of Catholic Charities, a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Albany. Proceeds from the festival benefit Catholic charities in Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties.
The festival kicks off with the annual preview reception on Wednesday, Nov. 29, from 6 until 8 p.m. For a $50 donation, the public will get a preview of the decorations. There will also be local entertainment by guitarist Jeff Brisbin and pianist Brenda Vredenburg, and hors d’oeuvres compliments of Saratoga Springs eateries the Olde Bryan Inn and Longfellows.
While the $50 donation is required for this part of the event, Commins said it is a donation and not an admission fee, so it should be tax deductible.
`It’s a real community event,` Mark Baker, president of the Saratoga Springs City Center, said of the event. Baker said the festival provides something for everyone, regardless of age, `and that’s why it’s become an anchor event for the Victorian Streetwalk.` This year’s streetwalk takes place a day after the Festival of Trees’ preview reception, on Nov. 30.
`In some cases they just wow you,` Baker said of the trees. Each major tree has a theme to its decorations, said Baker. He recalled that the in the festival that followed Sept. 11, 2001, he saw a lot of red, white and blue incorporated into the trees.
`You look at some trees and say, ‘How did they do that?’` he said.
Earline Johnson, event chairwoman of the festival, said there is no overlying theme for this year’s trees, giving their decorators complete creative control over their trees.
`We’ll see everything from Victorian style trees to racing themed trees,` she said. `We have one tree here that BOCES (Board of Cooperative Education Services) is creating. The tree itself is sponsored by NYRA (the New York Racing Association) and they’re creating a horse right out of the tree.`
Johnson said the festival has become a Broadway mainstay over the past 11 years. `It’s been a wonderful kickoff to the holiday season in Saratoga,` she said, `And I hear we’re going to get a little snow this weekend, so that’ll make it that much nicer.`
Baker said he’s seen the festival become more and more popular in the past decade.
`In the past 11 years, the festival has done nothing but grow and grow, not only in its popularity, but in its financial impact.`
Family Day this year is Saturday, Dec. 2. It starts off with Breakfast With Santa at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11a.m. The continental breakfast costs $8 and is by reservation only. The cost of breakfast includes admission to the festival and to Santa’s workshop. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For those who prefer the afternoon to the morning, you can join Santa for ice cream sundaes at 3p.m. Children and adults alike can make their own sundaes and have a visit with the jolly old elf.
Santa’s Workshop is a free event held on Dec. 2 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children will get to meet Mother Goose and Mrs. Claus.
Admission to festival itself is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and children older than 10. Children 10 years old and younger are admitted free.
`All of our staff is volunteer, all of the proceeds go to good causes,` said Commins, `So come and pick up a decoration or two.`
The Saratoga Springs City Center is located at 522 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.
For an event schedule, visit www.saratogafestivaloftrees.com. “