Deck the Halls for a Good Cause! Grove Roots Celebrated Festival of Trees.
by James Coulter
Santa Claus, sugar plum fairies, and Ronald McDonald–all these figures and more were some familiar faces seen within the several dozen trees showcased at Grove Roots in Winter Haven during the annual Festival of Trees last weekend.
Several dozen trees were decorated within the back room of the local brewery and displayed on Saturday and Sunday during the annual event. All of the trees were decorated by professional designers and sponsored by local businesses, with the trees being delivered after the event to the businesses that sponsored them.
Aside from being able to see these trees decorated in all their glory, visitors during the event were also able to visit and take pictures with Santa Claus, have their faces painted, decorate their own Christmas cookies, and peruse many local vendors.
The Festival of Trees was hosted by the Ridge Art Association in conjunction with various other local organizations including the Gardenia Club, Cypress Gardens Montessori, Lake Wales Art Council, and the Ridge Artisan Shoppe. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Ridge Art Association and the other participating organizations.
“It has been great,” she said. “We had a lot of little children come through to see the trees and visit Santa, get their faces painted, and decorate cookies. We owe our success to all of the families that have come out, all the designers who volunteered their time, all the sponsors who have sponsored the trees, and all the organizations that have become involved.”
For more information about the Ridge Art Association, visit their website at: https://www.ridgeart.org/