Once upon a tree…

LEEDS―It's going to look a lot like Christmas at Anthony's Banquet Hall, where the Fortnightly Club of Catskill is preparing to turn the pages on another magical holiday season with its 31st Annual Festival of Trees.

This year's theme, A Storybook Christmas, promises to transport visitors into a whimsical winter wonderland filled with beautifully decorated trees, festive wreaths and enough holiday cheer to make even the Grinch smile.

With an estimated 50 to 55 trees and 40 wreaths expected to deck the hall, the three-day celebration will offer something for everyone, from sparkling decorations to sweet treats, entertainment and a visit from the man in the red suit himself.

Festival co-chairs Lori Holliday, Terri-Jo Gallagher, Amanda Karch and Stephanie McCulloch said the inspiration for this year's theme came from a desire to capture the wonder and nostalgia of Christmases past.

"The committee thought hard about this year's theme and we kept coming back to stories/books imagining a Christmas that feels like stepping into the pages of a beautifully illustrated holiday book—nostalgic, whimsical, and filled with magic. The feeling of Christmas morning in a timeless winter tale," they explained.

And while the finished festival may look like something straight out of a Christmas fairy tale, making that magic happen takes considerably more than a wave of Santa's hand.

Planning begins a full year in advance, with the final week before the festival rivaling the North Pole's workshop on Christmas Eve.

An estimated three dozen Fortnightly Club members and volunteers help bring the event to life, supported by generous sponsors and talented decorators who transform ordinary trees and wreaths into extraordinary holiday creations.

The decorating frenzy begins Sunday, November 8, when volunteers start preparing the banquet hall. Tree decorators will then have three days to work their Christmas magic.

And just like Santa's list, the number of participating trees and wreaths keeps changing as additional sponsors and decorators sign on.

"There are a lot of hands in getting this festival underway and we appreciate every single one of them," the co-chairs said.

The festivities officially begin Friday, November 13, with an Opening Night Gala from 7 to 10 p.m.

The festival welcomes the general public Saturday, November 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, November 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitors can enjoy a holiday gift area, raffles, live entertainment, a café serving lunch and snacks, and, of course, a chance to visit with Santa. General admission is $5 per person, with children 12 and younger admitted free.

For little elves looking for some extra holiday magic, the popular Cookies and Cocoa with Santa experience returns with four sessions this year—two on Thursday, November 12, and two on Saturday, November 14. The $15 experience includes after-hours admission to the Festival of Trees, cookies and cocoa for one, a visit with Santa himself and a personalized ornament for each child. Advance reservations are required.

And for those who fall in love with a particular tree or wreath, the silent auction offers a chance to bring that Christmas magic home.

The inaugural festival raised $5,000 more than three decades ago. In recent years, that figure has climbed as high as $55,000, providing a significant boost to local organizations and programs.

So, behind every twinkling light and carefully placed ornament is an effort to spread goodwill throughout Greene County long after the decorations have been packed away.

"All money raised from our event goes right back into our community, supporting youth sports, local food pantries, theater and music programs, and animal shelters just to name a few," the co-chairs said. "We are proud to give back to the organizations and programs that make our community a better place for everyone."

And while the event may be built around the magic of Christmas, organizers say its success ultimately comes down to the generosity of the community.

"We sincerely appreciate everyone who comes out to support this special event," the co-chairs said.

Additional information is available at www.fortnightlyevents.org/festival-of-trees.