PORT HURON

Festival of Trees rises to new heights

Bob Gross, Times Herald
Amanda Yearkey, of Croswell, sets up a tree in preparation for the Festival of Trees Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 at the Blue Water Area Convention Center in Port Huron.

Tricia Course-Cislo was working Wednesday with her twin sister, Tanya Course-Hernandez, on a Christmas tree covered with superheroes.

"This year is Christmas is Super, so it is all about the superheroes," she said.

She has a special connection to Thor.

"I consider myself a Viking like Thor because I survived ovarian cancer," Course-Cislo said.

The sisters were among the teams of designers and volunteers decorating 50 Christmas trees for the 28th Festival of Trees,10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Blue Water Convention Center. The event is a fundraiser to benefit McLaren Port Huron hospital.

Lisa Yearkey, of Croswell, sets up a tree in preparation for the Festival of Trees Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 at the Blue Water Area Convention Center in Port Huron.

Decorating a tree has become a family tradition for the sisters — this is their 16th year.

Funds raised during the event will go to the hospital's Rising to New Heights campaign, a four-year effort with a goal to raise $5 million to support the Karmanos Cancer Institute, a new four-story patient tower and hospital renovations.

Jamie Guyor, of the McLaren Port Huron Foundation, said the Festival of Trees is the hospital's "tradition to celebrate Christmas with the community ..."

Lucie DeLine, chairwoman of the 2016 festival, said she got involved "because I love volunteering and I got involved through Chase Bank probably about 15 years ago, and I've stayed with it ever since."

The festival has a new home this year with its move to the Blue Water Convention Center from McMorran Arena. Guyor said the convention center has more room for more activities.

"Santa will be here this weekend, and we have an expanded children's area called Elfville," she said. The area will include games and crafts and a snowball fight with plush snowballs.

Ornaments hang from a large wreath on the ceiling as decorations are put up in preparation for the Festival of Trees Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 at the Blue Water Area Convention Center in Port Huron.

The event also will have a teddy bear hospital.

"Kids can bring their teddy bears in for a checkup," Guyor said, noting that children without a teddy bear can adopt one for $5.

"We'll bandage it and give it some honey."

Events associated with the festival include a Gala Preview Party, 7-10:30 p.m. Friday; Breakfast with Santa, 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Saturday; and a Family Pajama Party 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Toodie May, Nigar Hussain and Kathryn Ledtke, from the Port Huron Medical Society, were decorating a tree straight out of Bedford Falls, New York, with quotes and ornaments reflecting scenes in "It's a Wonderful Life."

Patricia Toth, of Clyde Township, sets up a tree in preparation for the Festival of Trees Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 at the Blue Water Area Convention Center in Port Huron.

"It's my favorite holiday movie," Ledtke said. "It's a feel-good holiday movie."

Both Guyor and DeLine said they are amazed at the creativity of the tree designers.

"I'm blown away by it," DeLine said. "They start the day after thinking about what they are going to do for next year."

Contact Bob Gross at (810) 989-6263 or rgross@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter@RobertGross477.

Brandi Bowman, of Midland, sets up a tree in preparation for the Festival of Trees Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 at the Blue Water Area Convention Center in Port Huron. Bowman, who recently moved to Midland from Port Huron, returned to participate in the event for her sixth straight year.

 

Festival of Trees

  • The Festival of Trees to benefit the McLaren Port Huron Foundation is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. General admission is $5; children younger than 2 are free.
  • The Gala Preview Party is 7-10:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $95 with a young adult price of $75 for ages 35 and younger and will not be available at the door. Call (810) 989-3776 or visit www.mclaren.org/phfestival.
  • Tickets are available for the 11:30 a.m. Saturday seating of Breakfast with Santa. Tickets are $15 for ages 13 and older; $10 for ages 6-12; and $5 for ages 5 and younger. Tickets, which include festival admission, will not be sold at the door. Call (810) 989-3776 or visit www.mclaren.org/phfestival.
  • The Family Pajama Party is 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15 for ages 13 and older; $10 for ages 6-12; and $5 for ages 5 and younger. Tickets, which include festival admission, will not be sold at the door. Call (810) 989-3776 or visit www.mclaren.org/phfestival.
A handmade owl ornament is displayed on a tree in preparation for the Festival of Trees Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 at the Blue Water Area Convention Center in Port Huron.