LAC LA BICHE - The Festival of Trees has become a well-loved occasion in Lac La Biche County for the past 14 years. This year’s festival will be held from Nov. 21-24 at the Bold Center, in conjunction with the Christmas Shopping Extravaganza.
Pat Boon-Anderson, co-founder of the Festival of Trees, helps organize the popular fun community event each year. She says the 2024 festival will include a children’s concert on Nov. 22, a bingo event in the Wild Rose Room of the Bold Center being hosted by the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion on the Saturday, as well as various children’s activities throughout.
Those who attend the four-day event will also have the opportunity to meet Santa and Mrs. Clause and even get their picture taken with Jolly Old Saint Nick.
There will also be plenty of bright and beautifully decorated trees on display inside of the Bold Center, creating a magical winter wonderland.
Last year’s Festival of Trees featured 68 Christmas trees that were donated by local businesses and community organizations. While organizers are hopeful the community will once again step up to donate the trees for which this signature event is known for, they can only accept a limited number of trees.
“We only can take 70 trees,” Boon-Anderson tells Lakeland This Week.
Boon-Anderson says donors determine the amount of money they want to spend on decorating a tree, and the number of gifts placed under each tree.
Tickets to win a tree, she adds, cost one dollar each and can be purchase in packs of $20.
According to Boon Anderson, ticket sales will kick off at the Lac La Biche Farmers Market two weeks prior to the Festival of Trees. Organizers are adding 20,000 more tree tickets this year, and people are encouraged to get their tickets before they run out.
“We have a limited number of tickets - so do not wait until that weekend to buy them,” she says.
During this year’s Festival of Trees, there will be a booth printing people’s name on labels if they don’t want to write them all out. People decide what trees they would like to have a chance to win and distribute their tickets in the corresponding boxes.
There will also be door prizes each day for those who would rather try their luck there instead.
“The money raised goes back into the community to the non-profit organizations that help put this festival on,” she says.
Showcasing culture
Boon-Anderson has been involved in the Festival of Trees since its inception in 2010. The event, she says, places emphasis on the cultural aspects of the Lac La Biche area.
“This festival has always held the goal of showcasing our unique cultures and arts as part of the events to partake in since the beginning year,” she says.
After 14 years, the event continues to be a popular attraction According to Boon-Anderson, for the 2023 festival, 14,480 people came through the doors of the Bold Center over the four days.
Regarding how the festival has changed and evolved since the inaugural event in 2010, Boon-Anderson says that the community has become increasingly involved. In turn, this has helped spread a positive message about the event not only in the local area, but the whole province.
She also praises the local business community for its support, and the large number of volunteers whose hard work and dedication help make the Festival of Trees a reality each year.
“The number of hours of volunteering, and the amount of volunteers it takes is truly ‘tree-mendous’,” she says.
People wanting to donate trees to this year’s festival can contact Lauren Kamke at 780-404-7697.
For more information about the 2024 Festival of Trees, contact Pat Boon-Anderson at 780-404-7911.