Walk In Art Center Festival of Trees registration open

The Walk In Art Center’s Festival of Trees begins Nov. 18, and area school and civic groups and non-profits are invited to decorate a tree to win cash for their organization.

The festival runs for two weeks and ends at the WIAC’s Holiday Artisan Market on Dec. 2.

St. Patrick’s Pottsville Area Kitchen and The Cressona American Legion were the big winners in 2022. Terry Alexander from the Soup Kitchen accepted the nearly $500 first prize check and was eager to spread the word about this fun fundraiser.

“I’m gonna try to get a bunch of other groups I know to participate! I’ve had my plan for this year’s tree in the works for nearly a year,” Alexander said.

There 17 community, civic, and nonprofit groups participating in 2022, nearly tripling the number from the year before. Jacquie Engel, Executive Director at the Walk In, hopes that number continues to grow this year.

“We’d love to have trees all throughout our facility,” she said. “All of the groups got something for their trees, and those that really spread the word and reached their supporters to vote for their tree, really did well.”

Engel says most organizations had bids on their trees as well as votes. All of the bid money went right to the organization, along with at least 50% of the voting funds and perhaps the bonus of $200 for having the most votes, or $100 for the second most.

There are also special awards: Holiday Spirit — for the most traditional, Outside the Box — for the most unique, Home Made Holiday — for those who create the ornaments themselves, Seasonal Showstopper — for the one with the “wow factor,” Artsy-Fartsy—for the most creative, and awards for first and second place.

Guidelines and registration for the event are available at walkinartcenter.org. Supporters and friends of the participating groups are encouraged to visit the site and vote for their favorite tree. It’s one dollar per vote and that can be done in person or online.

With the Festival of Trees, the WIAC’s annual Holiday Artisan Market and the annual Jingle Mingle fundraising event, Engel estimates nearly 1,500 people spent time at the Walk In this year.

“This year will be even bigger,” she said.

Events at the Walk In Art Center are supported through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Find out about the show and other Walk In Art Center guilds, events and expos, art classes, vendor opportunities, and family events by visiting facebook.com/walkinartcenter or at walkinartcenter.org.

Source: Berkshire mont