3
FESTIVALS
EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS
AROUND EASTERN OREGON
NOVEMBER 3�10, 2021
La Grande’s Festival of Trees set for Dec. 3-4
Go! staff
L
A GRANDE — The La
Grande Soroptimists are
busy planning the 35th annual
Festival of Trees set for Dec.
3-4 at the Blue Mountain Con-
ference Center, 404 12th St.
“Last year’s festival and
live tree auction was canceled
due to the pandemic, but we
adapted our event to off er a
virtual online auction that was
very successful,” said the fes-
tival’s co-chair Di Lyn Larsen-
Hill. “But we all missed the live
auction, gala and Family Fun
Day so we are forging ahead
with plans for their return.”
The two-day event begins
Friday, Dec. 3, with the gala
dinner and live tree auc-
tion. Guests who have pre-
purchased gala tickets will be
treated to a gourmet dinner
prepared by Island City Deli
and Catering followed with the
live auction of trees and gift
items. Auctioneer Jake Sea-
vert will team up again with
emcee Kevin Loveland.
Western
Feed,
LLC
Pendleton, OR 97801
The Raise Your Paddle
event will be held again with
proceeds benefi tting schol-
arships for Union County
students.
The Festival of Trees
continues Saturday, Dec. 4,
with Family Fun Day from
9 a.m.-noon at the conference
center. Admission is one can
of food, which will be donated
to the local food bank, or
a pair of new socks for the
Soroptimist Boots and Socks
Program.
Santa Claus will be there
to visit with children and pose
for photographs. Mrs. Claus
will open her kitchen to assist
youngsters in decorating their
own Christmas cookies.
One part of the festival will
remain virtual.
“We were so pleased with
our online auction last year
that we are going to do it that
way again,” said co-chair
Shayla Rollins. “It gives ev-
eryone in the community, and
even beyond, a chance to bid
on some really great Christ-
mas gifts.”
The online auction begins
Thursday, Dec. 2, at 8 a.m. and
runs through Saturday, Dec.
4, at 6 p.m. Access it here:
Dick Mason/The Observer, File
People check out Christmas trees Dec. 7, 2019, at the Blue Mountain Conference Center, La Grande, during the annual
Festival of Trees. The 2020 festival was virtual, but the fundraising event for 2021 will be mostly in person.
https://charityauction.bid/-
FestivalofTrees2021.
Raffl e tickets are on sale
from any Soroptimist member
and will be sold at the festi-
val, with lucky winners of the
three prizes to be announced
Dec. 4. This year’s prizes are
a half beef cut and wrapped
donated by Granite View Foot
and Ankle, a $500 OTECC
credit, and one year of free car
washes from Island Express
Lube & Car Wash.
For more information, or
to inquire about gala tickets,
contact Larsen-Hill at 541-
963-5341 or dilarsenhill@
gmail.com or Shayla Rollins
at 541-910-5511 or srollins@
otec.coop.
(503) 317-3145
jon.westernfeedllc@gmail.com
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