The Festival of Trees is Coming Soon

Photos and Article by Shirin McArthur

On Monday, November 24, a variety of people from Grant County gathered at 614 North Bullard Street, the Silver City Food Coop's event space, to decorate live Colorado Spruce, Austrian Pine and Ponderosa Pine trees for this year's Festival of Trees. The trees will go on sale, beginning Black Friday, as a fundraiser for the Guadalupe Montessori School.

The Festival of Trees has a long history in Silver City. Previously the Mormon Church and Penny Park hosted the event. Guadalupe Montessori School revived the festival last year as a family-friendly holiday event and fundraiser. This year's Festival, which includes a Holiday Pop-Up Store, runs from November 28 – December 6.

Organizations and individuals pay $10 for the chance to decorate a tree, providing their own lights and ornaments. The decorated trees can be viewed throughout the Festival, during which time they are sold to local businesses, families and individuals. Buyers will have their names on a sign printed by Silver City's Power and Light Press, and the trees will be delivered to their homes or businesses after the Festival of Trees is over.

Various organizations from the area have participated in decorating the trees. The Mogollon Rim Fiber Guild and Yada Yada Yarn decorated their tree entirely with handmade ornaments. Life Quest decorated a tree with a Dia de los Muertos theme, while the High Desert Humane Society decorated theirs with ornaments featuring animals available for adoption.

A more unusual tree, formed from a giant agave seed stalk, is intended for installation outdoors and is covered with strings of popcorn, cranberries and cherry tomatoes, along with birdseed-encrusted ornaments, so that our local birds can enjoy the holiday season as well.

Guadalupe Montessori School's children are also participating in the Festival. With the help of their teachers, the toddlers created ceramic ornaments imprinted with their feet, while the primary school children's ceramic ornaments are imprinted with their hands.

Decorating day started with a big rush, and by noontime many of the trees had been fully decorated. "Everybody has their own process of decorating," said Frances Miller as she placed ornaments on Jared Carpenter's Ceramics4Life tree. Miller is an auxiliary staff member at Guadalupe Montessori School, responsible for gardens and maintenance.

In addition to the decorated trees, which sell for anywhere from $200-700, smaller rosemary trees, poinsettias, and handmade swags will be on sale at the Festival. The Holiday Pop-Up Store accompanying the Festival will offer gifts, including toys, crafts, herbal products from the GMS garden, and additional items.

The final day of the Festival, December 6, is Sugar Plum Saturday, a downtown Silver City celebration coordinated by local businesses. On that day, the Festival will include a Gingerbread Extravaganza, with a hands-on project for kids of all ages and a friendly gingerbread house competition. If you wish to submit a gingerbread creation for the contest, which has both professional and amateur categories, email events@guadalupemontessori.org.