PORT ANGELES — Christmas trees decorated with everything from stuffed teddy bears to John Deere model tractors mark this year’s glittering Festival of Trees.
Now in its 12th year, the annual event is a three-day fund-raiser for the Olympic Medical Center Foundation and the Port Angeles Exchange Club.
Elaborately decorated Christmas trees are auctioned during the opening gala Friday night, which includes a gourmet buffet dinner catered by local restaurants and a dance.
Each shimmering evergreen tree has a sponsor — businesses, organizations and families — and comes with at least $500 in premiums.
The premiums include gift certificates, tickets to lavish catered dinners, trips to Victoria, Las Vegas, Disneyland and DisneyWorld, cruise ship excursions, premium wine, sports memorabilia and Mariners and Sonics tickets.
On Saturday and Sunday — the festival’s “Family Days” — you can see the trees before they are delivered to the homes or businesses of the winning bidders.
All proceeds go toward the medical center foundation’s purchase of patient care equipment for the hospital and to Exchange Club programs like the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse.
The festival’s events are at Vern Burton Community Center on Fourth and Peabody streets in Port Angeles.
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