LARC preparing for Festival of Trees

TORRINGTON — LARC’s 17th Annual Festival of Trees will be held at Valerie Manor, 1360 Torringford St. The ten-day festival opens Tuesday, Nov. 20 and closes with a Festival Bash on Thursday, Nov. 29.

The festival is open daily from 1-7 p.m. when guests can enjoy the decorated themed trees and record their bids for a number of silent auction items including trees, gift baskets, wreaths, tabletop holiday displays, and children’s items.

There will be opportunities throughout the week to enter raffles for tickets to this year’s main event, the Festival Bash. Thomaston Savings Bank is presenting sponsor of the Festival Bash, which will be held on Nov. 29 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Guests can enjoy appetizers, wines and nonalcoholic beverages, and holiday music. Additionally, guests will be able to bid, buy and, if they’re the highest bidder, take home their treasures. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased online at www.litchfieldarc.org.

For those unable to attend the Festival Bash, bids can be entered on bid sheets through the afternoon of Nov. 29 until 4 p.m. Any winners not in attendance will be called Thursday evening and arrangements made to pay for and pick up winnings.

With the exception of the Festival Bash, the following themed evenings are free thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, including media sponsor, WZBG:

Festival Opens: Tuesday, Nov. 20, 5:30-7 p.m.; North Pole Night: Friday, Nov. 23, 6-7 p.m.; Visit with Santa: Saturday, Nov. 24, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; LARC Appreciation Night, Monday, Nov. 26, 3:30-5 p.m.; The Polar Express" Story Night, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 6-7 p.m.; “The Grinch” Story Night, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 6-7 p.m.; and Festival Bash, Thursday, Nov. 29, 5:30-7 p.m. (ticketed event).

The Festival of Trees is one of two major fundraising events LARC holds each year. Funds raised are used to enhance the quality of life of LARC program participants. Support has enabled children with special needs attend Camp MOE and allowed hundreds of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities enjoy the Holiday Party, Spring and Fall Dinner Dances, and Summer Pizza Picnic. Proceeds have also provided field trips for students in the School to Community Transitions Program, and many recreational trips and activities throughout the year.

For more information about the Festival of Trees, see www.litchfieldarc.org.