PORT ANGELES — Tickets go on sale Monday for the 35th edition of the Festival of Trees’ Teddy Bear Teas, Gala and expanded Opening Ceremonies.
Tickets also will be available for the Senior Breakfast and Family Days.
The annual event is a local Thanksgiving weekend tradition. The four-day fundraiser for the Olympic Medical Center Foundation features elaborately decorated Christmas trees and wreaths created by some of the area’s best designers.
This year, the Vern Burton Community Center, at 308 E. Fourth St. in Port Angeles, will be decorated for the theme The Nutcracker Ball.
Opening Ceremonies will highlight the theme with the history of The Nutcracker presented by the Port Angeles City Ballet. Ballet Director Kate Robbins will stage the review inside huge, LED-lighted Christmas ornaments.
In addition to the ornaments will be four set pieces from Westlake Park in Seattle for taking selfies as well as snow from a snow-making machine.
The $20 tickets to the opening ceremonies on the Vern Burton lawn also entitle the holders to a pre-festival tour of the decorations inside the center.
The tree designers will be available for questions as they stand next to their trees.
This year’s Opening Ceremonies have been moved to the Tuesday before Thanksgiving instead of Thanksgiving Eve since the day before the holiday can be a difficult time for people to attend an event.
The following is the list of events, all at the Vern Burton Community Center, with ticket prices:
• Opening Ceremonies: 5 p.m. Nov. 25. Presented by Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, these will include the lighting of large outdoor decorations and trees, a performance, snow and tours of the decorated trees inside the Vern Burton Center. Tickets are $20 each.
• Teddy Bear Teas: 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Nov. 28. Presented by Erika Ralston Word of Windermere for parents and children, Santa will make his first appearance at the event and will be available for photos with each child. Photos will be printed and available to pick up immediately following the event. Tickets are $16 each for general admission or $32 each for VIP admission, which includes champagne.
• Festival of Trees Gala: Doors open at 5 p.m. Nov. 28. Presented by First Fed, participants will enjoy a buffet dinner, tree auction and silent auction. Tickets are $110 each.
• Senior Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Nov. 29. Breakfast will be served for all ages. There also will be entertainment and tree viewing. Tickets are $20 each.
• Family Days: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 29, with Santa photos from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 30, with Santa photos from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can view the trees, wreaths and other decorations as well as purchase raffle tickets and enjoy entertainment. Tickets are $8, with those 12 and younger free.
Tickets can be purchased at www.omhf.org, by calling 360-417-7144 or by going to the foundation office at 1015 Georgiana St. in Port Angeles.
Proceeds from OMC Foundation fundraisers are donated to the Olympic Medical Center for equipment and other needs.
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Leah Leach is a former executive editor for Peninsula Daily News.
