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Festival of Trees dazzles in celebration that supports buying hospital equipment

UPDATE: The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary’s Festival of Trees set a record number of entries and raised a net profit of $55,400. Additional proceeds from the Second Time Around Store’s Christmas Boutique will bring the grand total to more than $75,000 for the weekend’s fundraising.

With these funds the Auxiliary will purchase two point of care blood analyzers for use at the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital.

This year there was a “My Favourite” vote by attendees, in each hall. The winners are as follows:
Tubbs Main Hall: “The Cosy Christmas Cupboard” by Mary Ann Bartlett
Upper Mac Hall: “Winter Sparkle” by Nomad Designs
Lower Mac Hall: “The First Snowfall Splendour” by Arlene Wright

Story and photos by Sharon Harrison
Visitors to the 31st annual PEC Festival of Trees explored a celebration of the season, full of Christmas promise this weekend – in support of raising funds for new equipment for the Prince Edward County hospital.

Some come to simply appreciate the colourful, illuminated joyful spaces and the oh so many little individual trees, traditionally decorated, or more unusually so, where collectively they don’t fail to entice a smile for the effort and creativity involved, and the joy they bring.

While many come to admire the hundreds of little trees (and in this context, a ‘tree’ can be much more than just a tree, really anything at all), decorated to perfection, others come eager to bid on a special item (or items) in a silent auction-type event, sometimes returning several times over the weekend to ensure they aren’t outbid.

It’s tradition, and it’s fun, and it’s for a great cause.

The silent auction items on offer, whether they came with a little tree or something else entirely, was typically enormous and included something for everyone, something for the kids, pets too, and even the birds.

While many of the “trees” were created by individuals, plenty came from local businesses, where almost all were themed around the Christmas season, colourful, sometimes illuminated or sparkly, but almost always amazingly constructed, original, unique, thoughtful and creative, sometimes to the extreme.

Hosted and organized every year by the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary volunteers (it takes hundreds of them to organize and run this huge event), funds each year go toward purchasing a much-needed piece of equipment for the hospital.

“Fundraising events like this are essential for our hospital as the government does not purchase any equipment,” said Liz Jones, PEC Festival of Trees manager. “All equipment, including beds and chairs, must be fundraised through the community.”

Last year the funds raised purchased a transport ventilator for the emergency department.

This year, the Auxiliary’s target is $51,000 to purchase two portable point-of-care blood analyzers for the hospital.

“This technology allows the attending physician to get the results of your blood test bedside, in 15 minutes,” noted Jones.

Lenni Stewart, with Tom Dietzel on keyboard, beside a warming fire belted out several favourite Christmas tunes, and also reminded how it really is, the most wonderful time of the year.

Live musical entertainment ran throughout the three days and included a full spectrum of local musicians that included Bill Wood, Caleb Hutton, Lenni Stewart and Tom Dietzel, as well as the Reasons, Shout Sister and the County Music Ensemble, among the long list.

 

Command Performance Choir

The Command Performance choir, resounding in its performance of carols and traditional songs were right on cue for a “Let it Snow!, Let it Snow!, Let it Snow!” rendition as the snow just began falling outside from the view from the Isaiah Tubbs resort windows overlooking Sandbanks. Included in the repertoire were several lesser known, but nonetheless delightful seasonal songs, such the enchanting Snowflakes Dancing.

Saturday, Santa Claus even put in an appearance, posing for pictures, for the no-charge event, where children were able to share with jolly St. Nick what they really want for Christmas. The children were also entertained Saturday morning with a fun kids’ show with Mark Despault.

There was also the usual bucket draw raffle, where items on offer included an air fryer, art work, a Dutch oven, golf green fee passes, a kitchen blender, champagne, and a pair of Miss Emily concert tickets, among them.

Also part of the event is the irresistible bake sale, which as usual, sold out fast of delicious treats of tarts and pies, bars and squares, muffins and breads, and, of course, Christmas cookies and fudge.

The silent auction also included artwork, knitted wearable items, ceramics, décor and decorative items, inflatables, furniture, toys galore, even edible items, as well as services, accommodation stays, restaurants visits and even septic pumping services. Fabric quilts and barn quilts, things to wear, things to eat, things to do, things to imbibe, things to read, things that grow and things to grow, and, of course, a huge choice of Christmas trees.

While the illuminated, cheerful, magical oasis of sorts brightened a gloomy, breezy and cold weekend, the Auxiliary also hosted its companion Christmas Boutique event at the Second Time Around Shop on Main Street Picton, featuring a store full of decorations, gift items, linens, books, home decor and Christmas items.

The “Perfectly Preserved” group in the PECM Hospital Auxiliary also held its  annual Christmas sale  at the Picton arena Saturday featuring  holiday baking, including Christmas cakes and puddings, pies, tourtières (meat and vegan), appetizers; all sorts of cookies and loaves and much more. All funds raised there also  go to the County’s hospital for the purchase of medical equipment.

The Festival of Trees and boutique are the largest fundraising efforts of the year for the Auxiliary, where support for the event, and support for the County hospital, continue through generous donors in a supportive community.

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