2023 Festival of Trees Held at Museum

The theme in the stillness of the bright and shiny night was "Naughty or Nice" in downtown last week.

The night of November 30th was festive and special as the Phillips County Historical Society hosted the 20th Annual Festival of Trees at the Phillips County Museum. Penny Mackey provided entertainment as she gracefully played on the piano that floated from the balcony and fell gently amid the crowd. It was indeed a night of wonderment and magic as holiday songs filled the air. The smell of peppermint and evergreen added a feeling of the winter season to the atmosphere.

Carol Kienenberger, President of the PCHS, welcomed guests from near and far. This was her first festive event since being elected last year.

"I think we did pretty well," she said, after a busy weekend in her life. In addition to the event at the museum on Thursday, she attended a funeral on Friday, and helped the Little White Church fund raiser on Saturday, and before her weekend of hustle and bustle came to a slower pace on Sunday after church.

She said, "I was really impressed with the community support for the event. The crowd was smaller (due to other happenings in the community that evening), and there was plenty of food."

"I will admit, I was a lot more busy than I thought I would be." As she summed up the successful evening, she attributed the outcome to the community and the volunteers, as well.

Resting (a wee bit) from the duties of the president, former president, Kay Hould, was equally as pleased with the fundraiser.

"It was great!", The community is to be commended on their support of the museum. When I was elected in October of 2004, we had a debt and no plans for repayment. I had heard about the event called the Festival of Trees, did some quick research and in those two months following put together the first one."

She added, "It was amazing how well received it was." She also added they originally held it on a Friday in December and quickly learned one doesn't schedule anything to interfere with sports if one expects attendance and success.

Hould said, "This is our way of saying thank you to the community; they can come enjoy a night of festivities, the sparkle, the fun, and the comradery with friends," in the special season called Christmas.

Highlights of the evening were the auctioned items and People's Choice selection. A birdhouse crafted by local a talented artist and wood craftsman, (who would like to be kept on the quiet side) brought $600. A decorated tree entered by the Rough Riders 4-H Club was the winner of the People's Choice this year, and the tree sold for $400. The 4-H Club received a $50 gift certificate for the Museum Gift Shop and donated the certificate to the Toys for Tots Program.

Auctioneer Tanner Anderson kept the crowd glancing around the room to see who they were bidding against and each waiting for the other to call it quits. The auctioned item bids, silent auction bids and Chinese raffle items were all generously donated, and for a good cause.

Hould said, "Donations were received after the event, even, and this is the main fund raiser for the PC Museum; and their purpose is to preserve the history of Phillips County." Memberships at the museum are not only local, there are many from out-of-state and some from former residents who want to assist with the preservation of our little community.

The community can be proud of the support shown as well as the quality of donated items. This is a great community for giving.