3
FESTIVALS
EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS
AROUND EASTERN OREGON
NOVEMBER 17�24, 2021
Festival of Trees spruces up holiday season
By Tammy Malgesini
Go! Magazine
H
ERMISTON — A reimag-
ined Festival of Trees 2021
is planned for Saturday, Dec. 4,
at the Hermiston Community
Center, 415 S. Highway 395.
“I’m excited about it because
we’re fi nding a way to have Fes-
tival of Trees this year where we
couldn’t have it last year,” said
Liz Marvin, event co-chair.
Festival organizers were
riding high in 2019 — tickets
for the 25th annual gala din-
ner and auction sold out within
three days. And then things
went dark in 2020 because
of COVID-19 restrictions. As
plans were pondered for the
2021 event, thoughts turned to
providing a safe event for many
to enjoy.
Julie Puzey, publicity chair,
said overall attendance in previ-
ous years was limited due to
the number of tables available.
This year, with time slots for the
viewing of holiday items, shop-
ping and placing bids, more
Western
Feed,
LLC
Pendleton, OR 97801
people can attend. In addition,
lower ticket prices makes it
more aff ordable.
Ticket costs and time slots
are: 2-3 p.m., family hour, $25
per family; 3-4 p.m., individuals,
$20 per person; and 4-5 p.m.,
5-6 p.m. or 6-7 p.m., adults
21 and older, $20 per person
(includes wine tasting). Tickets
are available at the Hermiston
Chamber of Commerce, 630 S.
Highway 395, or by calling 541-
567-6151.
Puzey is especially optimistic
about this year’s festival. While
it’s diff erent, she said it’s excit-
ing that more people will be
able to enjoy the festive holiday
event. Those in attendance, she
said, will be amazed.
“The trees and wreaths
and stockings are exquisite,
creative and fun,” Puzey said.
“There is so much creativity
and imagination and artistic
skill, plus the generosity of the
sponsors and those in the com-
munity who donate stuff that
goes under the trees.”
Cathy Wamsley, who coordi-
nates large trees for the event,
said the trees will appeal to a
wide audience. Men, women
and children will be drawn
in with such themes as the
Tammy Malgesini/EO Media Group, File
A family visits with Santa Claus during a past Festival of Trees at the Hermiston Community Center. Tickets with
designated time slots are available for purchase for this year’s Dec. 4 event.
outdoors, fi shing, Christmas
at home and “Bohemian Rhap-
sody.” In addition, there will be
smaller table-top trees as well
as wreaths, stockings and holi-
day gift baskets.
Also, guests can win during
the Day of 100 Gifts. Every 15
minutes, winners will be an-
nounced — examples of gifts
are coff ee from Honduras, wine,
See’s Candies and Christmas
decor.
“We want people to come
and see all the hard work of the
decorators and sponsors, but
people can bid without attend-
ing the event,” Marvin said.
Items can be purchased with
either an online winning bid or
with the “buy it now” feature. A
computer link will be available
on the event’s Facebook page,
or text “Joy” to 71760.
While this year’s event won’t
include a catered meal, many
area restaurants will off er Festi-
val of Trees discounts. Informa-
tion about participating eater-
ies will be posted on the event’s
social media.
Festival organizers — Good
Shepherd Community Health
Foundation and the Hermiston
Kiwanis Club — have provided
funding support to more than
150 programs and projects
in the community. For more
information, search Instagram
@festivaloftreeshermiston
or visit www.facebook.com/-
HermistonFestivalofTrees.
(503) 317-3145
jon.westernfeedllc@gmail.com
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