The Festival of Trees will be having events Nov. 22 to 24 at the Alex Dillabough Centre. (File Photo/battlefordsNOW)

By Austin Mattes

Christmas Spirit

‘A brand new look’: Festival of Trees starts on Friday

Nov 22, 2024 | 6:00 AM

With the first snowfall of the season underway, it’s only fitting that Battlefords Union Hospital (BUH) Foundation’s 29th Annual Festival of Trees kicks off this weekend.

From decorated trees and wreaths to sleigh rides and dancing, this fundraiser embodies the meaning of the Christmas spirit. But this time, things will be a little different than years past.

For this installment, the events will only take place for three days from Nov. 22 to Nov. 24 and all of them will be at the Alex Dillabough Centre. The first event will be the Senior’s Social, starting at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. Then on Saturday starting at 6:00 p.m., you can enjoy some champagne, a great meal, and an exciting show at the Christmas Cabaret.

To finish it all off on Sunday, everyone is welcome to come down for Family Day at 1:30 p.m. and take photos with Santa, decorate cookies, ride the sleigh and celebrate Christmas with the community.

“We’ve really shortened the time frame and that’s just simply because we still want to be able to offer all the spirit of Christmas giving and giving back, but we just had to look at it from a different perspective. We wanted it to be very event specific focused and that’s why we’ve done the social for the seniors, we have the cabaret and then the family day to really encompass all the Christmas spirit,” said Executive Director of the BUH Foundation, Leanne Ducommun.

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On top of the shortened time frame, there is also a whole new way they are doing the viewing and bidding for the decorated items and silent auction packages.

“Normally what we’ve done in the past with the festival is we’ve had all our decorated items for viewing, but we’ve tried to reimagine what the festival could look like. So we did bring some trees in for viewing, but we do have our new online auction where all of the decorated items and silent auction items are, so people who are coming to the event can view them or they can from the comfort of their home and have until Dec. 2nd to make their bids.” Ducommun said.

Some of the decorated trees on display at the Alex Dillabough Centre. (File Photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

One thing that hasn’t changed this year is the purpose of the Festival of Trees. All money raised from the event will go back to the BUH, specifically to buy much-needed defibrillators.

“We can’t just have one defibrillator. There are multiple defibrillators that are required. There’s a lot of major surgeries that take place in the operating department at Battleford Union Hospital. And having these defibrillators, they do have a time of life and it is our job to ensure that we have those critical pieces of equipment for them to use.” Ducommun added.

Over the past 29 years, the BUH has helped raise well over a million dollars through the Festival of Trees and hopes to continue giving back to the community.

“Healthcare doesn’t stop, so neither do we and we know that there’s a lot of great nonprofits out there, and we’re just so grateful to the individuals that time and time again think of us and remember us during these times. The impact they’re making is not only helping their family, but also their friends, their family, and essentially the entire community,” said Ducommun.

To bid on an item, get tickets to an event or find out more information, visit the Battlefords Union Hospital (BUH) Foundation’s Website.

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austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes