13
FESTIVALS
EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS
AROUND EASTERN OREGON
DECEMBER 1�8, 2021
Festival of Trees returns to a live event
Fundraiser
is happening
Dec. 3 and 4
in La Grande
By Lisa Britton
Go! Magazine
L
A GRANDE — The 35th
annual Festival of Trees, a
fundraiser for the La Grande
Soroptimists, is returning to an
in-person event this year on Dec.
3 and 4 at the Blue Mountain
Conference Center, 404 12th St.
“There was a lot of enthu-
siasm,” Di Lyn Larsen-Hill said
of those who decorate the
festival’s trees. “We all missed
the live auction, gala and family
fun day.”
Unlike previous years, howev-
er, she still has tickets available
for the gala dinner and live tree
auction at 5:30 p.m. on Friday,
Dec. 3. To check on availability,
call Larsen-Hill at 541-963-
5341. Gala tickets are $50.
State health guidelines will be
in eff ect during the festival.
“We’re taking every precau-
tion we can to make it a safe
event,” she said.
One aspect will remain virtual
— the auction, which opens
Dec. 2 at 8 a.m. and closes
Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. To bid, go to
https://charityauction.bid/Festi-
valofTrees2021.
“It was so successful that
we’re doing it again,” Larsen-Hill
said of the online auction. “It
gives an opportunity for com-
munity members to bid.”
Shayla Rollins/Contributed image
An online auction for the La Grande
Festival of Trees is open through 6
p.m. Dec. 4.
FAMILY FUN DAY
The Festival of Trees con-
tinues on Saturday, Dec. 4, with
Family Fun Day from 9 a.m. to
noon at the conference center.
Admission is one can of food,
which will be donated to a lo-
cal food bank, or a pair of new
socks for the Soroptimist Boots
and Socks Program.
Santa Claus will be on hand
to visit and pose for photo-
graphs, while Mrs. Claus will
assist children in decorating
Christmas cookies. Youngsters
can also write their letter to
Santa.
Local agencies will have
activity tables set up, and there
will be special giveaways for
youth.
“It’s a surprise but the kids
are going to be happy,” Larsen-
Hill said.
Raffl es will be part of the
festivities. Tickets may be
purchased from any Soroptimist
member or at the festival. This
year’s prizes are a half beef
cut and wrapped donated by
Granite View Foot and Ankle, a
$500 OTEC credit, and one year
of free car washes from Island
Express Lube & Car Wash. The
raffl e drawing is at 1 p.m. Satur-
day, Dec. 4.
The Festival of Trees is the
yearly fundraiser for the Sorop-
timist Club, which in turn returns
proceeds to the community
through grants that are open
to agencies, organizations and
individuals.
“We defi nitely want to return
it to the community,” Larsen-Hill
said, noting that the Soroptimist
mission is to “empower women
and girls.”
Find applications online at
https://lagrandesoroptimist.org/.
INFORMATION
For more information about
the Festival of Trees, contact
Larsen-Hill at 541-963-5341
or dilarsenhill@gmail.com, or
Shayla Rollins at 541-910-5511
or srollins@otec.coop.
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