Exeter Town Hall to host 25th annual Festival of Trees on Nov. 29-30
EXETER — The Festival of Trees returns for its 25th anniversary on Nov. 29 and 30.
Since it began in 1998, the event has helped raise over $1 million for the Community Children’s Fund, providing warm winter clothing and bedding for local children in need. A record of over $50,000 was raised at the festival in 2022.
This year’s Festival of Trees will take place at the Exeter Town Hall on Nov. 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Nov. 30 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Organizers started using an online bidding platform called “BetterWorld” in 2021 and due to its success, plan to use it again for the silent auction of the trees this year.
Highlights include 50 live evergreen trees creatively decorated by area businesses, organizations, clubs, and residents, as well as a large raffle tree. Last year the raffle tree was valued at over $7,000 in gift certificates from local businesses.
Funds raised at the two-day event come from the silent auction of the trees, raffle tree ticket sales, decorator registration fees, underwriter donations, Cookie Room sales, tree delivery fees, and general donations online and at the event. Admission is free.
Co-founders Jan Russell and Bonnie Galinski began the Festival of Trees in 1998.
“No one could have imagined that an event that began with just a few trees now displays and auctions 50 trees and has assisted the Exeter Area Charitable Foundation to distribute more than $1,400,000 to 13,000 children over the years,” said Russell.
The Festival of Trees is one of several fundraisers that benefit the Community Children’s Fund, which is under the auspices of the Exeter Area Charitable Foundation. Throughout the year, Chase the Ace, Kicks for Kids, The Duck Race and the Gingerbread House Contest also benefit the Community Children’s Fund, with the Festival of Trees being the primary source for the much-needed funds.
As a result of these efforts, vouchers for warm clothing and financial aid are distributed regularly to families in Exeter, Brentwood, East Kingston, Epping, Exeter, Kensington, Kingston, Newfields, Newmarket, Newton, Raymond, Stratham and Fremont.
For more information, visit the Festival of Trees website at https://www.exeterareacharitablefoundation.org/festivaloftrees
or contact the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce at 603-772-2411. To view photos from past Festival of Trees events and get updates, please visit their Facebook page: Exeter, NH-Festival of Trees-CCF.